3  1822005477351 


' 


fififfffitf.tt  CALIFORNIA .  SAN  DIEGO 


31822005477351 


4 


CENTRAL  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

University  of  California,  San  Diego 

DATE  DUE 


FEBl 

-tttr 


DANIEL,  WEBSTER,  AT  THE  AGE  OF  83. 


THE 


AMERICAN  STATESMAN; 


OK  ILLC8TBATION8   OP 


THE    LIFE    AND    CHARACTER 


DANIEL  WEBSTER. 


DZIIGXID   VOX 


AMERICAN  YOUTH. 


BY 


REV.   JOSEPH    BANVARD, 


AJTF.OR  OF  PLYMOUTH   AKD  THE    PILGRIMS,     NOVELTIES   OF  Till 
ROMANCE   Of  AMERICAN    HISTOEY,  ETC* 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED    BY   D.  LOTHROP   &  CO. 
DOVER,  N.  H. :   G.  T.  DAY  &  CO. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1875, 

BY  I>.  LOTHKOP  <fc  CO., 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


PREFACE. 


THE  object  of  this  volume  is  to  present  a 
sketch  of  the  most  interesting  and  important 
events  which  occurred  in  the  history  of  the 
distinguished  statesman  who  has  lately  passed 
away.  The  author  makes  no  pretensions  to  the 
discovery  of  new  facts.  He  has  availed  himself 
chiefly  of  the  published  memoirs  and  reminis- 
cences of  Mr.  Webster,  amongst  which  were 
Daniel  Webster  and  his  Contemporaries,  by 
Charles  W.  March ;  The  Private  Life  of  Daniel 
Webster,  by  Charges  Lanman ;  Personal  Memo- 
rials of  Daniel  Webster  ;  Memoir  of  the  Life  of 
Daniel  Webster,  by  Samuel  L.  Knapp ;  Biograph- 
ical Memoir  of  the  Life  of  Daniel  Webster,  by 
Edward  Everett,  prefixed  to  Mr.  Webster's 
Works,  and  Life  and  Memorials  of  Daniel  Web- 
ster ;  together  with  the  numerous  eulogies, 

5 


6  PREFACE. 

speeches,  and  sermons  occasioned  by  his  de- 
cease, selecting  such  facts  and  incidents  from 
each  as  would  suit  his  purpose,  and  deducing 
from  them  such  lessons  or  principles  of  action 
as  are  worthy  the  contemplation  of  those  for 
whom  the  book  is  specially  designed. 

That  the  distinguished  subject  of  this  work 
had  his  faults,  and  that  there  is  a  difference  of 
opinion  as  to  the  wisdom  of  some  of  the  acts 
of  his  political  life,  no  one  presumes  to  deny. 
But  it  is  of  his  commendable  traits  of  character 
that  the  author  here  treats.  These  he  would 
hold  up  for  the  admiration  and  imitation  of 
American  youth.  He  has  endeavored  to  prepare 
a  work  which  every  American  patriot  would  be 
pleased  to  have  his  children  read. 


C  ONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

•Mi 
The  two  Riders. — A  pleasing  Proposition. — Accepted. —  A  3ite.  —  A 

Plunge.  —  A  Trout  caught.  —  Daniel  Webster.  —  Hia  Birthplace.  — 
Kearsage  Mountain. — The  touting  Boy. —  The  mysterious  Well.— 
Drinking  from  the  moss-covered  Bucket. —  Influence  of  Nature  on 
Style.  —  Webster's  Love  for  the  Grand  in  Nature.  —  Worthy  of  Im- 
itation.—  Pictures  admired  more  than  the  original  Landscapes. — 
Advice  to  the  Young.  —  Influence  of  the  Love  of  Nature  on  Char- 
acter   is 


CHAPTER    II. 

Webster's  Father.  —  Webster's  Health. —  His  Education  desired.— 
Providential  Arrangement.  —  A  School  opened.  —  Teacher  Chase.  — 
Webster's  early  Struggles  for  an  Education.  —  Unreasonable  Com- 
plaints. —  Contrasts.  —  Master  Tappan.  —  Mutual  Remembrances.  — 
Webster's  first  Letter  to  Tappan.  —  His  Donation.  —  Master  Tap- 

7 


;  CONTENTS. 

pan's  Testimony.  —  Webster  gets  a  Reward.  —  Tappan's  EnthtiM- 
aam.  —  Webster's  second  Letter  to  him.  —  His  Example  commend- 
ed. —  Nile.  —  Tappan's  Death.  —  Teacher  Hoyt  —  His  Character.  — 
Webster's  Testimony  concerning  him.  —  Webster  reads  to  the 
Teamsters.  —  Domestic  Scenes ....  28 


CHAPTER    III. 

Social  Libraries.  —  Webster's  Reading.  — The  Mill.  —  Daniel  at  the 
Mill.  —  His  favorite  Authors.  —  His  Employment  favorable  for  Read- 
ing.—The  Constitution  on  the  Handkerchief.  —  The  Books  he 
chose.  —  His  Amusements.  —  Freezes  his  Toes.  —  No  Pleasure  in 

being    scolded Observance   of   the    Sabbath.  —  Deacon   True's 

Boys.  —  The   Influence  of  Habit  —  Webster  a  quick  Learner.  - 
Concludes  to  become  a  Teacher.  —  Goes  to  an  Academy.  —  Impm 
tance  of  Education.  —  Webster  and  the  Side  Saddle.  —  His  Exam- 
ination. —  He   can't    declaim.  —  Is   ridiculed.  —  His   two   Promo- 
tions  .-» 40 


CHAPTER    IV. 

A   Sleigh   Ride.  —  Affecting    Incident Benefits    of    Knowledge.  — 

Advice  to  Youth.  — A  Supposition.  —  Webster  learns  rapidly. — 
His  Mode  of  Retaliation.  —  A  Day  for  Pigeon  shooting.  —  Industri- 
ous Boy.  —  His  Habits  broken.  —  Blistered  Hands.  —  Goes  a  Berry- 
ing.—  An  amusing  Incident  —  Poorly  fitted  for  College.  —  Impor- 
tance of  a  good  Preparation  for  College.  —  False  Position.  — 
Webster's  Ride  to  Hanover.  —  Great  Freshet.  —  Appears  before  the 
Faculty  for  Examination.  —  Blue  Dan.  — Passes  the  Ordeal  safe- 
ly.—Enters  College  at  the  Age  of  Fifteen S3 


CUNTK.Vr>. 


CHAPTER    V. 

Webster  is  classed  low.  —  He  won  rises.  —  His  Industry  in  College — 
Advice  to  Undergraduates.  —  College  Temptations.  —  Their  Anti- 
dote. —  Webster  studies  Oratory.  —  His  personal  Appearance.  —  De- 
livers a  Fourth  of  July  Oration.  —  Great  Britain's  Injustice  in  toe 
French  War.  —  English  Oppressions.  —  Battle  of  Bunker  hill. — 
Declaration  of  Independence.  —  Webster's  Address  to  the  Revolu- 
tionary Fathers — Remarks  upon  the  Oration.— He  delivers  a  fu- 
neral Eulogy.  —  Mortality  a  Principle  of  Action.  —  Prepare  for  the 
Future.  —  Religious  Suggestions 71 


CHAPTER    VI. 

A  great  Gathering.  —  Webster's  Theme  at  Commencement.  —  How 
collegiate  Honors  are  distributed.  —  United  Fraternity.  —  Webster 
chosen  Orator —  His  Oration.  —  Tears  up  his  Diploma.  —  Studies 
with  Squire  Thompson.  —  Becomes  a  School  Teacher.  —  Advan- 
tages of  keeping  School.  —  Registry  of  Deeds.  —  Where  there  is  a 
Will  there  is  a  Way. —  Fingers  ache.  —  Volumes  of  Deeds.—  Vote 

of  Thanks.  —  Academy  burned Affection.  —  Reverence  for  Mr. 

Webster.  —  How   manifested.  —  Continues  to  study  Law. — Com- 
mits to  Memory  Orations 84 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Wjoster  fond  of  Fishing.  —  Lovewell's  Pond.  —  The  great  Fight  —  1m 
portance  of  Relaxation.  —  Mr.  Webster's  Course.  —  Relinquishes  his 
School  —  Providential  Circumstance.  —  Mr.  Webster's  Progress  in 


10  CONTENTS. 

Law.  —  His  Attention  10  Business.  —  The  wrong  Course.  —  KimbalPs 
Turnpike.  —  Webster's  Determination.  —  His  Success.  —  Rule  to  reg- 
ulate Subscriptions.  —  Mr.  Webster  studies  with  Hon.  Mr.  Gore.  — la 
Admitted  to  the  Bar.  —  Mr.  Gore's  Commendation  and  Prophecy  ....  101 


CHAPTEE   VIII. 

Has  a  Clerkship  offered  him  —  Declines  it.  —  His  Father  displeased.  — 
Pays  his  Father's  Debts.  —  His  filial  Attachment  —  Some  treat  their 
Parents  unkindly.  —  Mr.  Webster's  first  Plea.  —  He  astonishes  every 
body.  —  Controlling  Witnesses.  —  The  Detection.  —  The  Character  of 
his  Arguments.  —  Webster  and  Mason  —  "  Import  a  young  Earth 
quake" 117 


CHAPTER    IX. 

A  dreadful  Deed —  General  Alarm —  Attack   of  two    Footpads — 
Hatch's    Disclosure.  —  Grant's    Letters.  —  Grant    arrested  —  The 

Kiiapps  arrested The  Confession —  The  Plot  explained.  —  Palmer 

imprisoned. —  Crowninshield's  Signal Palmer's  Fear.  —  The  Tri- 
al.—Mr.  Webster's  Plea. —The  Wicked  insnare  themselves.— 
Extraordinary  Things  — Avoid  bad  Company 13ft 


CHAPTER    X. 

Mr.  Webster  in  the  House  of  Representatives  —  His  first  Speech,  — 
Itt  Impression.  —  Was  successful.  —  Not  in  Haste  to  debate.  —  Hi* 


CONTENTS.  11 

Qualities  as  an  Orator. —  An  Attack  on  New  England.  — Webster 
and  Bell.  —  A  crowded  Senate.  —  His  Introduction.  —  His  Allusion 
to  the  Old  Bay  State.  — The  thrilling  Effect  —  Meeting  in  the  Bant 
Boom.  —  Importance  of  the  Speech.  —  Webster's  transcendent  AbU- 
itiee  — Seventh  of  March  Speech. —  Iu  Effect.  —  Different  Opin- 
ion* concerning  it 173 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Ecekiel  Webster.  —  A  noble  Mother.  —  An  Affecting  Night  Scene.  — 
Fraternal  Attachment  —  Touching  Tribute  of  Affection.  —  A  beau- 
tiful Letter.  —  Dedications.  —  Living  Monuments —  The  Profile.  — 
Mother's  Garden.  —  Mr.  Webster  visits  his  Grave.  —  The  Cem- 
etery.—  His  Remarks.  —  Monumental  Inscriptions.  —  Mr.  Webster's 
Poetry,  "  The  Memory  of  the  Heart" 190 


CHAPTER    XII. 

Mr.  Webster's  Mirthfulness.  —  A  playful  Letter.  —  Mr.  Choate's  Fa- 
mes.—  Webster's  practical  Joke.  —  Mr.  Choate's  poor  Writing. — 
Effect  of  the  Joke.  —  Mr.  Webster's  Trout  Law.  —  "  That  ain't  tho 
Worst  of  it."  —  Amusing  Contrast — The  Senate  interrupted. — 
Webster  and  the  Buckeyes.  —  "  Old  Webster "  and  the  sporting 
Snobs — Appearances  deceptive.  —  Webster's  Wit  — Amusing  Re- 
ply _»«  Venerable  "  Trout. —Effect  of  Cheerfulness. —Webster's 
Spelling  Book 817 


12  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Mr.  Webster  an  early  Riser.  —  His  Letter  on  the  Morning.  —  Adam** 
Mornings.  —  What  to  observe  in  the  Morning.  —  Dr.  Doddridge  on 
early  Rising.  —  Beauties  of  Marshfield.  —  Mr.  Webster's  Love  ol 
Trees.  —  He  protects  Birds.  —  His  Reward.  —  The  Quails  —  80 
tames  wild  Geese.  —  His  Interest  in  the  natural  Sciences.  —  Pre- 
sents Audubon  with  Birds.  — The  Wall-flower.  —  The  Sound  of 
the  Sea.  —  Lessons  of  Nature.  —  Dignity  of  the  Study  of  Nature 236 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

Mr.  Webster's  Candor —  Mr.  Ketchum's  Testimony —  Direction  to 
Mr.  Everett.  —  His  Magnanimity — Dr.  Choules's  Testimony.— 
Webster  and  DicJcenson.  — webfi'pr»«  Fii''"ffy  °"  r^h"""- — Char 
acter  of  his  Mind — H's  impress:ve  Manner — He  will  be  re- 
membered. —  Webster  and  Hayne.  —  How  to  treat  Opponents.  — 
Charity 353 


CHAPTER    XV. 

He  Human  Family  a  Brotherhood.  —  Effect  of  little  Kindnesses.  — 
Webster  and  Miss  Mitford.  —  Influence  of  a  Friend's  Death. —  Do- 
nations of  Garden  Seeds —  Gives  away  a  Cow.  —  Kindness  to  Mr 
Tappan.  —  Hungarian  Bull. —  Gores  Mr.  Taylor.  —  Kossuth.  —  Mr. 
Webster's  Present  —  Charles  Brown's  Use  of  Holiday  Money.  — 
Items  in  Mr.  Webster's  Will. —A  Rebuke  and  Fifty  Dollars.— 
The  old  Lady  on  Webster's  Farm.  —Another  Fifty  Dollars.  —Web- 


CONTENTS.  13 

MM  loan*  a  Client  Money.  —  A  toaebinj  81017  ef  *  Widow's  Pov- 
erty and  ME.  Webster's  Benevolence 9C4 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

Me.  Webster  »ever  oat  of  Order.  —  Ship  with  an  old  Lady.  — Re- 
ligious AJusk,iu.  -  Tlie  Bible  is  "  the  Book."  -  Piety  of  hi*  Brother 
EzekieL—  An  Evening  Scene  and  Scripture  Quotation.  —  Mr  Web- 
ster's Remarks  on  Job.  —  He  prefers  John. — Constant  in  Attend- 
ance on  Public  Worship.  —  His  Opinion  of  Sermonizing.  —  His 
Opinion  of  Prayer.  —  Mr.  Kirk's  Sermon.  —  Mr.  Webster's  g*j»Jir« 
upon  it. —  Believer  in  the  Atonement.  —  Bequests  Prayer  on  board 
a  Steamboat.  —  Influence  of  Prayer.  —  Arithmetic  of  Heaven.  — 
His  Religious  View*.  —  Pleased  with  Dr.  Watts'*  Hymns.  — Mr. 
Aldeo's  Eulogy.  —  Recognition  of  Divine  Providence.  —  Evidence* 
of  Christianity.  —  Write*  the  Inscription  for  his  own  Monument.  — 
Its  Importance »4 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

Mr.  Webster's  Health  fail*.—  He  retires  to  Marshfield.  —  His  Strength 
decrease*.  —  Signs  his  WilL  —  Returns  Thanks.  —  Encourages  Dr. 
Jeffries.  —  His  Prediction.  —  It  is  fulfilled —  Arranges  for  the  Ex- 
press.  —  Gives  Instruction*  respecting  his  Affairs.  —  His  last  Inter- 
view with  bis  Family.  —  Peter  Harvey.  —  94th  of  October.  —  Gray's 
Elegy. —Calls  in  his  Servants.  —  The  Valley.  —  His  Death.— 
Poetry 


14  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Funeral  of  Mr.  Webster  at  Marshfield —  Appearance  of  his  Re- 
mains. —  He  is  borne  to  the  Grave  by  his  Neighbors.  —  Boston  in 
Mourning.  —  Impressive  Arrangements.  —  Business  suspended.  — 
Appropriate  Mottoes —  Funeral  Obsequies  in  Boston  on  the  30th  of 
November.  —  Address  of  Mr.  Hillard.  —  Closing  Quotation 399 


fist  0f  Illustrations. 


I.   WEBSTER  LEAVING  HOME  FOR  EXETER  ACADEMT. 
Frontispiece.    (See  p.  52.) 

II.   BIRTHPLACE  OP  DANIEL  WEBSTER 17 

HI.   YOUNG  WEBSTER  ox  THE  WAY  TO  BOSCAWEN.      .    .    08 

IV.    WEBSTER'S  ORATION .98 

V.    WEBSTER'S    REPLY    TO    HAYNE   IN    THE    UNITBD 

STATES  SENATE 18S 

VI.    WEBSTER  AND  THE  BUCKEYES 228 

VII.    WEBSTER  AT  MARSHFIELD 242 

VIII.    DEATH  SCENE  OF  MR.  WEBSTER.  .  334 


THE  AMERICAN  STATESMAN. 


CHAPTER    I. 

The  two  Riders.  —  A  pleasing  Proposition.  —  Accepted.  —  A 
Bite. —A  Plunge.  —  A  Trout  caught.  —  Daniel  Webster.— 
His  Birthplace. — Kearsage  Mountain.  —  The  totlling  Boy. — 
The  mysterious  Well.  —  Drinking  from  the  moss-covered 
Bucket.  —  Influence  of  Nature  on  Style.  —  Webster's  Love  for 
the  Grand  in  Nature.  —  Worthy  of  Imitation.  —  Pictures  ad 
mired  more  than  the  original  Landscapes.  —  Advice  to  the 
Young.  —  Influence  of  the  Love  of  Nature  on  Character. 

ABOUT  sixty-five  years  ago,  a  man  of  stalwart 
form,  broad  shoulders,  and  swarthy  complexion, 
was  riding  through  Salisbury,  in  New  Hampshire, 
on  horseback,  carrying  with  him  a  puny  little  boy, 
with  dark  features,  sparkling  black  eyes,  a  round, 
projecting  forehead,  and  dressed  in  coarse,  home- 
spun clothes,  with  two  little,  shoeless  feet  projecting 
from  beneath.  The  man  had  been  indulging  in 
juvenile  conversation,  adapted  to  the  comprehension 
of  his  young  charge,  for  some  time,  in  which  the 
little  fellow  had  taken  part,  with  an  occasional  child- 
like remark  or  question.  As  they  approached  a 
brook,  whose  clear,  cool  waters  flowed,  sometimes 
murmuringly,  at  other  times  silently,  through  the 
woods  and  fields,  marking  their  course  by  a  vigor- 
ous fertility,  the  gentlemau  suddenly  exclaimed, 
"  Dan,  how  would  you  like  to  catch  a  trout  ! " 

(15) 


16  THE    TWO    RIDERS. 

The  little  boy,  who  perhaps  had  never  used  hook 
and  line  before,  immediately  signified  his  pleasure 
at  the  proposition.  The  horse  was  checked ;  both 
riders  dismounted,  and  began  to  prepare  for  the 
sport.  The  tall  form  and  long  arms  of  the  gentle- 
man were  specially  favorable  in  aiding  him  to  cut 
from  a  neighboring  tree  a  rod.  It  would  seem  as 
if  he  were  accustomed  to  these  extemporaneous 
fishing  excursions,  and  always  went  prepared  for 
them ;  for,  thrusting  his  hand  into  his  pocket,  he 
drew  out  a  string  and  hook  ;  then  turning  over  a 
stone  or  two,  he  found  a  worm,  which  he  soon  ad- 
justed as  bait.  After  fastening  the  line  to  the  rod, 
he  gave  it  to  the  little  boy,  saying,  "  Now,  Dan, 
creep  carefully  upon  that  rock,  and  throw  the  bait 
.upon  the  farther  side  of  the  pool."  The  little  fish- 
erman did  as  he  was  ordered.  His  bait  was  soon 
in  the  water,  and  his  eye  intently  watching  it.  It 
was  not  long  before  some  indiscreet  fish,  thoughtless 
of  consequences,  darted  from  his  concealment,  seized 
the  bait,  and  disappeared  like  a  flash  of  lightning 
This  was  just  what  the  boy  wanted.  Being  highly 
excited  with  his  success,  he  gave  a  sudden  jerk  to 
the  line ;  but,  instead  of  drawing  the  fish  out  of  the 
water,  he  unfortunately  lost  his  balance,  and  plunged 
headlong  into  the  pool.  The  gentleman,  seeing  that 
the  boy  was  more  likely,  from  present  appearances, 
to  die  in  the  water,  than  the  fish  was  to  expire  upon 


WEBSTER'S  BIRTHPLACE.  17 

the  land,  ran  to  his  rescue.  He  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing him  and  drawing  him  ashore,  "  with  a  pound 
trout  trailing  behind  him."  This  lad  was  DANIEL 
WEBSTER,  and  the  person  who  had  him  in  charge 
was  his  own  father. 

Not  far  from  the  place  where  this  rather  ludicrous 
incident  occurred,  stood,  at  that  time,  one  of  the 
better  class  of  farm  houses ;  although,  at  the  present 
period,  and  in  other  localities,  it  might  be  regarded 
as  a  very  ordinary  building.  It  was  but  one  story 
high,  with  a  door  in  the  middle,  and  a  window  on 
each  side,  and  three  windows  at  either  end.  It  con- 
tained four  rooms  on  the  ground  floor,  with,  proba- 
bly, chambers  in  the  attic.  An  addition  in  the  rear 
answered  the  purpose  of  a  kitchen.  It  had  only 
one  chimney,  and  this  arose  from  the  centre  of  the 
roof,  furnishing,  probably,  three  or  four  fireplaces, 
in  as  many  different  rooms.  The  framework  was 
of  heavy  timber,  the.  exterior  clapboarded,  and  the 
ends  pointed,  differing  in  this  respect  from  the  gam- 
brel  roof.  On  the  green  in  front  of  the  house  arose 
a  large  and  graceful  elm,  extending  its  long  and 
heavy  branches  over  the  mansion  below,  as  if,  in  the 
exercise  of  an  affectionate  interest,  it  would  protect 
it  from  harm.  Many  other  trees  of  the  same  kind 
were  scattered  over  the  grounds,  on  which  account 
the  place  received  the  appropriate  name  of  "  Elms 
Farm."  Near  one  end  of  the  house  was  a  deep 


18  HIS    EARLY   CHILDHOOD. 

well,  with  a  long,  old-fashioned  well  sweep,  to  one 
extremity  of  which  was  attached  a  bucket,  by  means 
of  which  the  clear,  cool  water  was  drawn  up  for  the 
use  of  the  family.  At  a  short  distance,  in  front  of 
the  house,  flowed  a  beautiful  silver  stream,  over 
which  was  thrown  a  safe,  though  rough-looking 
bridge.  Farther  off  was  a  high  hill,  crowned  with 
a  church,  and  beyond  all,  the  lofty  Kearsage  moun- 
tain lifted  itself,  "  head  and  shoulders  "  above  the 
surrounding  hills  —  a  beautiful  type  of  him,  who, 
in  intellectual  greatness,  rose  far  above  his  com- 
peers. 

In  this  house,  on  the  18th  day  of  January, 
1782,  Daniel  Webster  was  born.  Now  that  he 
has  departed,  after  having  lived  to  a  good  old 
age,  and  after  having  acquired  a  world-wide  fame, 
as  a  far-reaching  statesman,  a  powerful  orator, 
and  a  skilful  diplomatist,  it  is  interesting  to  look 
back,  and  contemplate  the  circumstances  and  events 
of  his  early  life.  At  one  time,  we  see  him,  a 
little,  tottling  boy,  in  homespun  frock,  making 
his  first  essays  to  balance  himself  upon  his  shoe- 
less feet,  as  he  advances  from  the  doorstep  to 
greet  his  father,  who  has  just  crossed  the  bridge, 
and  is  approaching,  with  outstretched  hands  arid 
rapid  step,  to  meet  him.  Again  we  see  him,  amus- 
ing himself  under  the  shadow  of  the  friendly  elm, 
that  stands  by  the  door,  like  a  huge  grenadier, 


fOUTHFUL    FANCIES.  19 

guarding  the  entrance  to  a  fort.  A  few  years  later, 
we  behold  him  tripping  over  the  fields,  jumping 
across  the  brook,  or  wandering  along  its  margin, 
with  hook  and  line,  ready  to  "  try  his  luck  "  so 
soon  as  he  shall  have  reached  a  place  where  the 
water  is  sufficiently  still  and  deep  to  give  promise 
of  success.  Again,  wearied  with  his  wanderings,  or 
his  labors,  is  he  leaning  over  the  well,  gazing  at  an- 
other little  boy  that  he  sees  far  down  in  the  bottom, 
and  who  is  mysteriously  looking  up  at  him.  It 
would  not  be  strange,  if  at  times  he  imagined  it  a 
hole  cut  through  the  earth,  and  that  some  little  fel- 
low, on  the  other  side,  was,  like  himself,  indulging 
uis  curiosity  by  looking  through.  A  pebble  drop- 
ping in  disturbs  the  surface  of  the  water,  breaks 
the  mysterious  picture  into  a  thousand  fragments, 
and  dispels  the  illusion.  Again,  .in  evening  twi- 
light, we  seem  to  see  him  sitting  upon  the  door- 
sill  ;  and,  as  the  noble  Kearsage  rises  in  the  dis- 
tance, with  its  bold  outline  clearly  defined  against 
the  gray-blue  sky,  he  gives  reins  to  his  juvenile 
fancy  ;  and,  as  the  ancient  Hebrews  "  sucked  honey 
from  the  rock,  and  oil  from  the  flinty  rock,"  so  he 
drinks  in  inspiration  from  the  sublimity  of  the  ma- 
jestic mount  before  him.  Who  can  tell  to  how 
great  a  degree  he  was  indebted,  for  the  simplicity, 
the  directness,  and  the  majesty  of  his  thoughts,  and 
of  his  style  as  an  orator,  to  the  noble  simplicity  and 


20  HIS    LOVE    OF    NATURE. 

graudeur  of  this  mountain  ?  It  was  not  decorated 
with  beautiful,  terraced,  hanging  gardens,  nor  with 
graceful,  luxuriant  vineyards.  It  arose  almost  naked 
from  the  plain,'  as  though  it  spurned  ornament  —  as 
though  it  needed  nothing  but  its  own  majestic  pro- 
portions to  give  it  grandeur  ;  and  thus,  by  its  own 
silent,  powerful,  eloquent  example,  it  may  have  aid- 
ed to  impart  those  characteristics  of  thought  and 
diction  which  give  such  a  charm  and  force  to  the 
oratory  of  Mr.  Webster. 

From  early  life  Mr.  Webster  was  fond  of  Nature. 
He  loved  sunlight  and  shadow,  rolling  hills,  quiet 
lawns,  turbulent  streams,  and  placid  lakes.  Na- 
ture, in  her  milder,  her  gayer,  or  her  sterner  moods, 
was  to  him  always  pleasing.  He  was  specially 
interested  in  the  great  things  of  creation.  He  de- 
lighted to  travel  through  the  wildness  of  mountain 
scenery.  Its  projecting  cliffs,  its  high  precipices, 
its  deep  chasms,  its  lightning-scarred  rocks,  its  thun 
dering  cataracts,  and  its  leaning,  gigantic  trees,  with 
roots  half  exposed,  threatening  every  moment  to 
fall,  and  ofttimes  executing  their  threatenings, — all 
inspired  him  with  pleasing  emotions  and  instructive 
thoughts.  He  loved  to  wander  by  the  ocean,  and 
have  its  huge  billows  roll  up  and  lay  their  bubbles 
at  his  feet.  Its  vast  expanse,  its  ceaseless  restless- 
ness, its  emerald  hue,  and  the  music  of  its  roar, 
were  always  grateful  to  him.  He  loved  to  gaze 


EXAMPLE    FOR    IMITATION.  21 

into  the  unmeasured  spaces  above  him,  and  contem- 
plate the  stars,  as  immense  globes  swinging  in  their 
orbits,  as  if  they  were  the  mighty  pendulums  which 
controlled  the  cycles  of  ages,  and  regulated  the 
mechanism  of  the  universe. 

This  love  of  Nature,  Mr.  Webster,  as  we  have 
stiid,  early  developed.  It  strengthened  with  advan- 
cing years,  and  became  a  prominent  feature  in  his 
character.  In  this  respect,  his  example  is  worthy 
of  imitation  by  the  young.  It  seems  surprising  that, 
with  so  many  objects  of  admiration  around  us,  as 
are  presented  in  the  infinite  variety  of  forms,  colors, 
and  combinations  of  natural  objects,  there  are  any 
who  derive  from  their  contemplation  no  enjoyment. 
Many  individuals  will  gaze  upon  a  picture  —  a  land- 
scape for  instance — with  the  greatest  pleasure.  Its 
rough  rocks,  vine-draped  trees,  or  decaying,  mis- 
shapen stumps,  are  pointed  out  as  interesting  fea- 
tures, equal  almost  to  the  more  important  combina- 
tions of  hill  and  valley,  land  and  water,  on  which 
the  artist  has  bestowed  his  greatest  skill.  And  yet 
these  same  persons  would  ride  by  the  original  of 
that  picture,  executed  with  the  infinite  skill  of  the 
Divine  Artist,  and  give  it  no  attention  whatever. 
O,  how  many  magnificent  landscapes  are  every  day 
passed  by,  without  eliciting  any  praise,  or  awaken- 
ing any  admiration  in  the  beholder  ! 

Let  it  not  be  so  with   you.     On   the  contrary 


22  INFLUENCE    OF    NATURE. 

cultivate  a  taste  for  the  beautiful  objects  of  creation 
Notice  the  colors  on  the  petal  of  a  flower,  the  infi- 
nite diversity  of  forms  in  the  leaves  of  trees,  and 
the  changing  effects  of  light  and  shade.  Calmly 
contemplate  the  hues  and  shapes  of  the  ever-shifting 
clouds,  the  features  of  the  ocean,  the  lake,  or  the 
river.  Form  a  habit  of  observing  the  peculiarities 
of  natural  objects  in  your  immediate  vicinity,  and 
you  will  find  your  heart  warming  towards  them. 
The  scenery  with  which  you  have  always  been  fa- 
miliar will,  to  your  fancy,  put  on  a  new  dress,  and 
invest  itself  with  more  pleasing  charms.  This  is 
not  all ;  for  the  love  of  Nature  has  an  elevating 
and  purifying  influence.  It  fills  the  mind  with  en- 
nobling thoughts  ;  it  calms  the  passions  ;  it  reminds 
us  of  the.  wisdom,  the  power,. the  goodness,  and  the 
omnipresence  of  the  Creator,  and* makes  us  more 
sensible  of  our  own  weakness,  and  of  our  entire 
dependence  upon  Him  without  whom  we  can  do 
nothing  , 


CHAPTER    II. 

Webster's  Father.  —  Webster's  Health. —  His  Education  do- 
sired.  —  Providential  Arrangement.  —  A  School  opened.  — 
Teacher  Chase.  —  Webster's  early  Struggles  for  an  Educa- 
tion. —  Unreasonable  Complaints.  —  Contrasts.  —  Master  Tap- 
pan.  —  Mutual  Remembrances.  —  Webster's  first  Letter  to 
Tappan.  —  His  Donation.  —  Master  Tappan's  Testimony.  — 
Webster  gets  a  Reward.  —  Tappan's  Enthusiasm.  —  Web- 
ster's second  Letter  to  him.  —  His  Example  commended. — 
Note. —  Tappan's  Death.  —  Teacher  Hoyt.  —  His  Charac- 
ter. —  Webster's  Testimony  concerning  him.  —  Webster  reads 
to  the  Teamsters.  —  Domestic  Scenes. 

THE  parents  of  young  Webster  appreciated  the 
value  of  a  good  education.  His  father,  knowing 
from  his  own  painful  experience  the  disadvantages 
of  being  destitute  of  so  great  a  boon,  was  anxious 
that  his  chrldren  should  escape  a  similar  experience. 
He  was  particularly  solicitous  with  reference  to 
Daniel,  who,  in  his  childhood,  was  pale,  weak,  and 
sickly.  Fearing  that  he  would  be  unable  to  per- 
form the  heavy  work  of  a  farmer,  or  to  obtain  his 
livelihood  from  any  of  the  mechanic  arts,  he  was 
the  more  anxious  to  give  him  as  good  an  education 
as  his  circumstances  would  permit.  May  we  not 
discover  in  these  facts  the  development  of  a  wise 
Providence  1  If  Daniel  had  been  a  strong  mus- 
cular boy,  or,  being  weakly,  if  his  parents  had  not 

(23) 


24  DIVINE    PROVIDENCE. 

set  a  high  value  upon  education,  he  would  probably 
have  been  devoted  to  an  agricultural  life,  and  then 
the  whole  current  of  his  history  would  have  flowed 
in  a  channel  vastly  different  from  that  which  now 
marks  its  course.  His  noble  speeches,  his  model 
state  papers,  his  sagacious  diplomacy,  his  legal 
knowledge,  and  his  clear  and  comprehensive  ex- 
positions of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
with  all  the  patriotic  and  conservative  influence 
which  has  followed  them,  would  have  been  lost  to 
the  world.  In  what  respects  the  present  condition 
of  our  country  would  then  have  been  different  from 
what  it  is,  how  far  those  principles  and  measures 
which  he  opposed  would  have  triumphed,  and  to 
how  great  a  degree  the  adoption  of  the  views  and 
policy  which  he  advocated  would  have  failed,  it  may 
not  be  easy  to  tell.  No  one  will  deny  that  a  great 
loss  would  have  been  experienced  to  literature,  to 
law,  and  the  science  of  civil  government.  This, 
however,  was  prevented  by  the  providential  sickli- 
ness  of  his  youth,  and  the  discretion  of  his  parents. 
Truly  — 

"There's  a  divinity  that  shapes  our  ends, 
Roughhew  them  how  we  will."  f 

At  the  time  little  Daniel  was  old  enough  to  com- 
mence sitting  at  the  feet  of  some  Gamaliel,  it  so 
happened  that  no  "  schoolmaster  was  abroad  "  in 


HIS    FIRST    TEACHER.  25 

the  vicinity  of  his  home.  His  mother  was  his  teach- 
er. She  gave  him  the  key  to  all  knowledge,  by 
initiating  him  into  the  mysteries  of  the  alphabet. 
That  <^he  was  a  suitable  person  to  have  the  control 
of  his  infantile  years,  will  be  made  apparent  upon 
a  subsequent  page. 

As  the  neighbors,  in  the  vicinity  of  Elms  Farm, 
were  equally  anxious  with  Mr.  Webster  to  secure 
the  opportunities  of  education  for  their  children,  a 
gentleman  by  the  name  of  Chase  was  induced  to 
open  a  school  near  Mr.  Webster's  house.  There 
was  nothing  particularly  promising  in  the  enterprise, 
nothing  imposing  in  its  external  demonstrations. 
It  was  not  held  in  a  public  hall,  nor  in  an  edifice 
erected  for  the  purpose,  which  might  be  dignified 

with  the  name  of  school  house,  but  in  a  hired  room 

* 

in  the  house  of  a  neighbor,  whose  name  was  San- 
born:  To  this  room  little  Daniel  was  sent  every 
day,  to  learn  how  to  spell  and  read  his  mother 
tongue.  *  This  house  has  resisted  the  power  of  the 
elements,  and  the  inroads  of  modern  improvements, 
till  the  present  time.  It  will  doubtless  be,  in  future 
years,  an  attractive  spot  to  thousands,  who  will  de- 
sire to  see  the  original  school  room  where  the  giant 
intellect  of  America's  greatest  statesman  received 
its  first  academic  instruction.  At  that  early  period, 
by  the  law  of  New  Hampshire,  each  town  was 
divided  into  several  school  districts.  Accordingly, 


26  MIGRATORY    EDUCATION. 

Salisbury,  ihe  town  in  which  Mr.  Webster  resided, 
contained  three  school  houses,  scattered  at  a  distance 
of  several  miles  from  each  other.  In  these,  how- 
ever, school  was  not  kept  all  the  year.  A  teacher 
was  employed  by  the  town,  who  taught  a  third  of  a 
year  in  each  of  them ;  so  that  the  opportunity  of 
education  was  somewhat  migratory.  These  school 
houses  were  of  a  rude,  unfinished,  log-house  char- 
acter, erected  for  use,  and  not  for  show.  By  this 
time  they  have  all  passed  away,  leaving  not  a  trace 
behind. 

When  the  term  arrived  for  the  school  house  in 
Mr.  Webster's  district  to  be  opened,  it  was  easy  for 
Daniel  to  attend ;  but  when  the  school  was  kept  in 
the  other  districts,  the  young  lad  did  not  stay  at 
home.  With  basket,  or  tin  pail,  containing  his  din- 
ner, he  trudged  away,  mile  after  mile,  over  hill  and 
dale,  and  through  comparatively  unfrequented  roads, 
to  school,  and  returned  again  at  fiight.  So  highly 
did  his  parents  value  education,  that  they  Were  will- 
ing to  subject  their  children  to  great  inconvenience 
for  its  attainment.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  for 
both  children  and  parents,  in  large  cities,  to  indulge 
in  complaints,  if  the  school  house  happens  to  be  sit- 
uated a  half  mile  from  their  residence,  although 
there  are  good  sidewalks  all  the  way.  One  might 
infer,  from  the  tone  of  their  remarks,  that  they  con- 
sidered the  sending  of  their  children  to  school  a 


MASTER   TAPPAN.  27 

favor  to  the  teacher  or  the  school  committee,  instead 
of  a  privilege  to  themselves,  and  that  therefore  they 
were  justified  in  their  complaints  of  its  distance. 
It  would  be  well  for  such  to  remember  the  incon 
veniences  which  were  endured  by  their  forefathers, 
in  obtaining  what  at  best  was  only  a  "  little  school 
ing,"  and  contrast  their  long  and  dreary  walks,  over 
poor  roads,  in  all  kinds  of  weather,  their  miserable 
school  houses,  and  ofttimes  their  equally  miserable 
teaching,  with  the  convenient  and  well-furnished 
schools,  and  the  excellent  instruction  of  the  present 
day.  The  number  is  not  small  of  those,  who,  if 
they  were  subjected  to  the  embarrassments  which 
the  feeble  young  Webster  was  obliged  to  surmount, 
would  be  discouraged,  and  faint  by  the  way. 

The  next  teacher  to  whom  young  Webster  w"as 
sent  was  James  Tappan.  This  gentleman  is  still 
living,  and  is  nearjy  ninety  years  of  age.  He  re- 
sides in  Gloucester.*  Although  there  had  been  a 
separation  between  master  and  pupil  for  many  years, 
yet  they  each  retained  a  distinct  recollection  of  each 
other.  That  the  master  should  remember  the 
pupil,  especially  when  his  subsequent  history  was 
radiant  with  glory,  and  that  he  should  continue  to 
follow  his  career  with  something  of  paternal  pride, 
is  not  remarkable ;  but  that  the  scholar  should  re- 
tain a  distinct  impression  of  the  first  instructors  of 

*  See  Note  on  p.  34 


28     WEBSTER'S  LETTER  TO  TAPPAN. 

his  childhood,  of  their  characters  and  qualifications 
for  their  office,  and  that  that  impression  should  not 
be  erased  during  a  long  series  of.  years,  filled  up 
with  ceaseless  attention  to  national  cares,  and  the  re- 
ception of  popular  glory,  may  justly  excite  surprise. 

In  1851,  Mr.  Tappan,  who  was  in  reduced  cir 
cumstances,  took  the  liberty  of  addressing  a  letter 
to  his  old  pupil,  in  which  he  referred  to  his  recol- 
lections of  their  former  relation.  This  drew  from 
Mr.  Webster  the  following  reply,  in  which  there  is 
a  beautiful  blending  of  the  sentiments  of  friendship 
and  piety  :  — 

""WASHINGTON,  February  26,  1851- 

"  MASTER  TAPPAN  :  I  thank  you  for  your  lei 
ter,  and  am  rejoiced  to  know  that  you  are  among 
the  living.  I  remember  you  perfectly  well,  as  a 
teacher  of  my  infant  years.  I  suppose  my  mother 
must  have  taught  me  to  read  very  early,  as  I  have 
never  been  able  to  recollect  the  time  when  I  could 
not  read  the  Bible.  I  think  Master  Chase  was  my 
earliest  schoolmaster,  probably  when  I  was  three  or 
four  years  old.  Then  came  Master  Tappan.  You 
boarded  at  our  house,  and  sometimes,  I  think,  in 
the  family  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Sanborn,  our  neighbor, 
the  lame  man.  Most  of  those  whom  you  knew  in 
New  Salisbury  have  gone  to  their  graves.  Mr.  John 
Sanborn,  the  son  of  Benjamin,  is  yet  living,  and  is 
about  your  age.  Mr.  John  Colby,  who  married  my 


THE    DONATION.  29 

eldest  sister,  Susannah,  is  also  living.  On  the 
« North  Road  '  is  Mr.  Benjamin  Pettingil.  I  think 
of  none  else  among  the  living  whom  you  would 
probably  remember.  You  have,  indeed,  lived  a 
checkered  life.  I  hope  you  have  been  able  to 
bear  prosperity  with  meekness,  and  adversity  with 
patience.  These  things  are  all  ordered  for  us  far 
better  than  we  could  order  them  for  ourselves.  We 
may  pray  for  our  daily  bread  ;  we  may  pray  for  the 
forgiveness  of  sins ;  we  may  pray  to  be  kept  from 
temptation,  and  that  the  kingdom  of  God  may  come 
in  us,  and  in  all  men,  and  his  will  every  where  be 
done.  Beyond  this  we  hardly  know  for  what  good 
to  supplicate  the  divine  mercy.  Our  heavenly  Fa- 
ther knoweth  what  we  have  need  of  better  than  we 
know  ourselves,  and  we  are  sure  that  his  eye,  and 
his  loving  kindness,  are  upon  us  and  around  us  every 
moment. 

"  1  thank  you  again,  my  good  old  schoolmaster, 
for  your  kind  letter,  which  has  awakened  many 
sleeping  recollections;  and,  with  all  good  wishes, 
I  remain  vour  friend  and  pupil, 

"  DANIEL  WEBSTER. 
"MB.  JAMES  TAPPAN." 

The  Christian  sympathy  and  consolation  which 
this  letter  contained  were  rendered  doubly  grateful 
to  the  old  gentleman  by  a  fifty  dollar  bank  bill 


30  MASTER  TAPPAN'S  ENTHUSIASM. 

which  it  contained  ;  *  for  Mr.  Webster  was  not  of 
the  number  of  those  who  profess  sympathy  and 
withhold  relief,  who  say,  "Depart  in  peace:  be  ye 
warmed  and  filled ;  notwithstanding  they  give  them 
not  those  things  which  are  needful  to  the  body." 
lie  added  to  his  professions  of  regard  a  tangible 
seal. 

Master  Tappan  took  great  delight  in  talking  of 
his  distinguished  pupil.  On  this,  if  on  no  other 
subject,  he  became  enthusiastic.  A  gentleman,  who 
in  1851  met  him  on  the  piazza  of  the  Pavilion, 
gives  the  following  account  of  him  :  "  Master  Tap- 
pan  is  now  in  his  eighty-sixth  year,  somewhat  infirm, 
but  with  his  intellectual  faculties  bright  and  vivid, 
especially  on  the  subject  of  his  old  pupil,  whom  he 
esteems  the  foremost  man  of  his  times,  and  in  whose 
fame  he  takes  a  justifiable  pride. 

"  '  Daniel  was  always  the  brightest  boy  in  the 
school,'  said  Master  Tappan,  '  and  Ezekiel  the  next ; 
but  Daniel  was  much  quicker  at  his  studies  than  his 
brother.  He  would  learn  more  in  five  minutes  than 
any  other  boy  in  five  hours.' 

"  It  was  Master  Tappan's  practice  to  hold  out  oc- 
casionally some  reward,  in  order  to  stimulate  his 

*  Hon.  Edward  Everett  states,  in  a  note  to  his  Memoir  of  Dan- 
iel Webster,  that  a  knowledge  of  this  fact  was  obtained  from  u 
paper, —  the  Gloucester  News,  —  to  which  it  was  probably  coir 
municated  by  Mr.  Tappan. 


WEBSTER    GETS    A    JACKKNIFE.  31 

scholars  to  their  greatest  exertion.  In  the  above 
conversation,  he  related  how  his  protege,  at  a  cer- 
tain time,  outstripped  his  competitors,  and  bore  away 
the  prize.  «  One  Saturday,'  said  he,  '  I  remember 
I  held  up  a  handsome,  new  jackknife  to  the  schol- 
ars, and  said,  the  boy  who  would  commit  to  mem- 
ory the  greatest  number  of  verses  in  the  Bible,  by 
Monday  morning,  should  have  it.  Many  of  the 
boys  did  well ;  but  when  it  came  to  Daniel's  turn  to 
recite,  I  found  that  he  had  committed  so  much  that, 
after  hearing  him  repeat  some  sixty  or  seventy 
verses,  I  was  obliged  to  give  up,  he  telling  me  that 
there  were  several  chapters  yet  that  he  had  learned. 
Daniel  got  that  jackknife.  Ah !  sir,  he  was  re- 
markable even  as  a  boy  ;  and  I  told  his  father  he 
would  do  God's  work  injustice  if  he  did  not  send 
both  Daniel  and  Ezekiel  to  college.  The  old  man 
said  he  couldn't  well  afford  it ;  but  I  told  him  he 
must,  and  he  finally  did.  And  didn't  they  both 
justify  my  good  opinion  1  Well,  gentlemen,  I  am 
an  old  man,  and  too  much  given  to  talk,  perhaps. 
Well,  good  by.  Beautiful  place  this  !  Beautiful 
sea  view ;  and  the  air,  how  soft  and  refreshing  ! 
But  I  must  leave  it  all  soon,  gentlemen.  I  have 
been  suffering  from  the  asthma  for  fifteen  years,  and 
it  is  now  worse  than  ever.  God  is  calling  us  all 
home,  some  sooner,  some  later ;  for  me  it  must 

3 


32  SECOND    LETTER    TO    TAPPAN. 

needs  be  soon.  But  good  by.  Enjoy  yourselves 
in  this  delightful  air.  Good  by  ! '  And  the  old 
gentleman,  tottered  away,  after  a  monologue  al- 
most verbatim  such  as  I  have  recorded.  It  seems 
to  be  the  one  sunny  spot  in  his  old  age,  to 
talk  of  his  old  pupil,  and  to  expatiate  on  his  great- 
ness as  a  statesman,  as  an  orator,  and  as  a  lawyer. 
Master  Tappan  alluded  to  the  news  in  regard  to 
the  threatened  difficulty  with  Great  Britain,  on  ac- 
count of  the  north-eastern  fisheries,  but  confidently 
remarked,  '  Daniel  will  settle  it  all,  so  that  we  shall 
hold  our  own,  and  have  no  trouble.  They  couldn't 
get  along  at  all  at  Washington  without  Daniel.  The 
country  won't  get  into  a  scrape  while  it  has  the 
benefit  of  his  pilotage ;  be  sure  of  that.'  " 

This  enthusiastic,  complimentary  language  of  the 
old  gentleman,  which  appeared  at  the  time  in  the 
Boston  Evening  Transcript,  was  read  to  Mr.  Web- 
ster. Being  in  this  manner  reminded  of  his  early 
friend  again,  then  experiencing  the  infirmities  of 
disease  and  age,  he  immediately  wrote  the  following 
letter  :  — 

"BOSTON,  July  20,  1852. 

«  MASTER  TAPPAN  :  I  learn  with  much  pleas- 
ure, through  the  public  press,  that  you  continue  to 
enjoy  life,  with  mental  faculties  bright  and  vivid, 
although  you  have  arrived  at  a  very  advanced  age. 


ANOTHER    PRESENT    TO    TAPPAN.  33 

and  are  somewhat  infirm.  I  came  to-day  from  the 
very  spot  in  which  you  taught  me  ;  *  and  to  me  a 
most  delightful  spot  it  is.  The  river  and  the  hills 
are  as  beautiful  as  ever,  but  the  graves  of  my  father 
and  mother,  and  brothers  and  sisters,  and  early 
friends,  gave  it  to  me  something  of  the  appearance 
of  a  city  of  the  defld.  But  let  me  not  repine. 
You  have  lived  long,  and  my  life  is  already  not 
short,  and  we  have  both  much  to  be  thankful  for. 
Two  or  three  persons  are  yet  living,  who,  like  my- 
self, were  brought  up  sub  tua  ferula.  They  remem- 
ber '  Master  Tappan.' 

"  And  now,  my  good  old  master,  receive  a 
renewed  tribute  of  affectionate  regard  from  your 
grateful  pupil,  with  his  wishes  and  prayers  for  your 
happiness  in  all  that  remains  to  you  in  this  life,  and 
more  especially  for  your  participation  hereafter  in 
the  durable  riches  of  righteousness. 

"DANIEL  WEBSTER." 

The  "  renewed  tribute  of  affectionate  regard," 
alluded  to,  did  not  consist  so  much  of  the  senti- 
ments of  the  letter,  although  these  \yere  peculiarly 
grateful  to  the  old  gentleman,  as  of  a  twenty  dollar 
bill  which  accompanied  them. 

The  example  of  Mr.  Webster,  in  giving  suostan 

*  This  was  Mr.  Webster's  last  visit  to  his  birthf  lace 


34  TEACHER    HOYT. 

tial  evidence  of  his  gratitude  to  an  early  instructor 
merits  more  than  a  simple  statement.  It  develops 
an  element  of  character  worthy  of  imitation.  Too 
frequently  is  it  the  case  that  pupils,  even  when  they 
have  attained  to  manhood,  use  language  with  refer- 
ence to  their  early  instructors,  which  is  expressive 
of  any  other  than  respectful  or  grateful  feelings. 
This,  to  use  no  stronger  terms,  is  unfortunate.  The 
practice  of  speaking  disparagingly  of  one's  early 
teachers,  whose  kindness,  patience,  and  skill  may 
all  have  been  exhausted  in  unwearied  efforts  for  our 
improvement,  with  perhaps  but  little  encouragement 
on  our  part,  deserves  severe  censure.  But  we  can 
imagine  few  things  more  commendable  than  a  pu- 
pil's expression  of  grateful  remembrance  of  his 
teacher,  by  some  appropriate  tribute,  more  signifi- 
cant than  words,  especially  when  the  condition  of 
that  teacher  is  one  of  infirmity  and  poverty.* 

After  our  young  hero  left  Master  Tappan,  he  was 
sent  to  school  to  Mr.  William  Hoyt,  the  itinerant 
teacher  of  the  town,  who  successively  occupied  each 
of  the  school  houses  a  third  of  the  time.  When  he 
taught  in  the  one  at  the  greatest  distance  from  the 

*  Since  the  above  was  written,  we  have  seen  it  stated  in  the 
newspapers,  that  this  venerable  patriarch  has  died,  and  that,  in  a 
few  days  after,  his  wife  followed  him  to  the  narrow  house  appoint- 
ed for  all  the  living  United  in  life,  they  were  by  death  not  long 
divided. 


HOYT'S  CHARACTER.  35 

Websters,  Daniel  was  usually  boarded  out  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  open  school,  coming  home-,  however, 
every  Saturday,  and  returning  on  Monday,  and  gen- 
erally  on  foot.  Hoyt  attained  to  no  great  distinc- 
tion in  his  profession.  He  could  teach  what  he 

*i- 

knew,  but  that  was  very  little.  He  excelled  in  the 
art  of  penmanship,  but  was  deficient  in  every  thing 
else.  The  most  that  he  could  do  was  to  teach 
spelling,  reading,  writing,  and  the  elementary  rules 
of  arithmetic.  Though  his  advantages. at  this  time 
were  not  great,  young  Webster  made  the  most  of 
them,  so  that,  in  the  course  of  a  couple  of  years, 
he  had  exhausted  his  teacher  —  he  could  learn  no 
more  from  him.  The  character  of  this  man  may 
be  learned  from  the  following  remarks,  which  were 
made  by  Mr.  Webster,  after  he  had  attained  to  high 
distinction  as  a  statesman  and  an  orator :  "  William 
Hoyt  was  for  many  years  teacher  of  our  county 
school  in  Salisbury  :  I  do  not  call  it  village  school, 
because  there  was,  at  that  time,  no  village,  and 
boys  came  to  school  in  the  winter  —  the  only  sea 
son  in  which  schools  were  usually  open  —  from  dis- 
tances of  several  miles,  wading  through  the  snow, 
or  running  upon  its  crust,  with  their  curly  hair  often, 
whitened  with  frost  from  their  own  breaths.  I 
knew  William  Hoyt  well,  and  every  truant  knew 
him.  He  was  an  austere  man,  but  a  good  teacher 
of  children.  He  had  been  a  printer  in  Newbury- 


36  WEBSTER    AND    THE    TEAMSTERS. 

port,  wrote  a  very  fair  and  excellent  hand,  was  a 
good  reader,  and  could  teach  boys,  and  did  teach 
boys,  that  which  so  few  masters  can  or  will  do  —  to 
read  well  themselves.  Beyond  this,  and,  perhaps, 
a  very  slight  knowledge  of  grammar,  his  attainments 
did  not  extend.  He  had  brought  with  him  into  town 
a  little  property,  which  he  took  very  good  care  of. 
He  rather  loved  money  —  of  all  the  cases  of  nouns, 
preferring  the  possessive ;  he  also  kept  a  little  shop 
for  the  sale  of  various  commodities,  in  the  house, 
exactly  over  the  way  from  this." 

But  little  Daniel  was  not  dependent  entirely 
upon  his  school  teachers  for  instruction.  His  fathei 
was  an  excellent  reader,  and  was  in  the  habit  of 
reading  aloud  to  his  family.  Sometimes  the  book 
he  selected  for  this  purpose  was  the  Bible  ;  at  other 
times,  when  the  mood  prompted,  it  was  Shakspeare, 
or  the  works  of  Pope.  By  hearing  his  father  read, 
more  than  from  the  instruction  he  received  at  school, 
Daniel  became  a  good  reader.  Having  an  excellent 
voice,  and  a  ready  perception  of  the  meaning  of  a 
writer,  with  the  ability  to  give  the  right  inflections 
and  emphases  to  develop  that  meaning,  he  was  lis- 
tened to  with  pleasure.  When  he  was  but  seven 
years  of  age  his  father  kept  a  public  house,  at  which 
the  teamsters  were  accustomed  to  stop  for  "  enter 
tainment  for  man  and  beast "  A  part  of  the  enter- 
tainment which  was  then  and  there  afforded,  con- 


INTERESTING    CONTRAST.  3? 

sisted  of  specimens  of  reading  by  the  young  orator. 
The  teamsters  were  accustomed,  as  they  checked 
their  horses  at  the  door  of  the  inn,  to  say,  "  Come, 
let's  go  in,  and  hear  a  psalm  from  Dan  Webster." 
The  identical  house  in  which  this  tavern  was  kept 
is  still  standing.  Says  Mr.  Lanman,  in  his  Private 
Life  of  Mr.  Webster,  with  reference  to  this  build- 
ing, "  It  was  only  a  few  months  ago  when  Mr.  Web- 
ster, bending  under  the  weight  of  years  and  a  pain- 
ful illness,  sat  with  the  writer  upon  its  little  porch, 
and  descanted  with  streaming  eyes  upon  the  various 
events  associated  with  his  boyhood's  home." 

How  interesting  the  contrast  between  little  Dan 
Webster  reading  a  psalm  in  the  tavern,  for  the 
amusement  of  his  rustic  auditors,  and  the  same 
Webster,  more  than  sixty  years  after,  sitting  upon 
the  porch  of  the  same  tavern,  after  astonishing  the 
world  with  his  eloquence,  visiting  foreign  courts  — 
a  sovereign  among  kings ;  settling,  through  the  skil- 
fulness  of  his  diplomacy,  some  of  the  most  difficult 
questions  of  international  government,  and,  after 
attaining  to  an  eminence  immeasurably  higher  than 
any  official  distinctions  in  the  gift  of  the  people  ! 
Who,  at  that  early  period,  under  the  influence  even 
of  the  wildest  flights  of  fancy,  would  have  ventured 
to  predict  that  the  little,  puny,  tavern  Bible  reader 
would  become  the  renowned  jurist  and  statesman, 
and  fill  the  world  with  his  fame  1  What  a  beauti- 


38  HOME    READING. 

fill  illustration  does  this  furnish  of  the  influence  of 
free  institutions  *  They  not  only  give  to  genius 
room  for  growth,  but  assist  its  development,  and 
then  furnish  a  large  field  for  its  exercise,  with  the 
promise  of  abundant  reward. 

The  practice  adopted  by  the  elder  Webster,  of 
reading  aloud  from  standard  authors,  has  a  highly 
beneficial  effect.  A  father,  who  is  a  good  reader, 
can  do  more  to  make  his  children  such,  than  any 
teacher  can,  with  the  time  usually  devoted  to  that 
branch  of  education.  Children  are  wonderfully  im- 
itative. From  their  observation  of  others,  they 
learn  how  to  walk,  speak,  and  act.  If  they  fre- 
quently listen  to  good  reading,  they  become  good 
readers  by  mere  imitation.  They  catch  the  tones, 
the  cadences,  the  emphases,  and  the  general  man  - 
ner  of  him  to  whom  they  listen.  It  was  fortunate 
for  young  Webster  that  his  father  excelled  in  this 
difficult  art. 

But  this  is  not  the  only  benefit  which  results  from 
such  practice.  It  assists  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
taste  of  the  children.  It  develops  before  them  the 
excellences  of  whatever  is  read.  It  awakens  an 
attachment  to  such  authors,  and,  in  addition  to  their 
intrinsic  merits,  it  surrounds  them  with  the  ever- 
pleasing  associations  of  home.  It  also  serves  to  make 
home  attractive,  and  the  family  circle  a  sphere  of 
improvement. 


BEAUTIFUL,    SCENE.  39 

A  father  surrounded  by  his  children,  and  reading 
to  them  from  the  Bible,  or  from  some  standard  au- 
th3r,  whilst  the  mother  is  engaged  with  her  knit- 
ting or  sewing,  presents  a  beautiful  domestic  scene- 
Such  scenes  were  often  witnessed  at  Elms  Farm. 


CHAPTER    III. 

Social  Libraries.  —  Webster's  Reading.  —  The  Mill.  —  Daniel  at 
the  Milf.  —  His  favorite  Authors.  —  His  Employment  favorable 
for  Reading.  —  The  Constitution  on  the  Handkerchief.  —  The 
Books  he  chose.  —  His  Amusements.  —  Freezes  his  Toes.  —  No 
Pleasure  in  being-  scolded.  —  Observance  of  the  Sabbath.  — 
Deacon  True's  Boys. — The  Influence  of  Habit.  —  Webster  a 
quick  Learner.  —  Concludes  to  become  a  Teacher.  —  Goes  to 
an  Academy. — Importance  of  Education.  —  Webster  and  the 
Side  Saddle.  —  His  Examination. —  He  can't  declaim.  —  Is 
ridiculed.  —  His  two  Promotions. 

WE  have  said  that  Webster  had  other  sources  of 
instruction  besides  his  teachers.  Amongst  these 
were  the  books  to  which  he  had  access  in  his  father's 
house,  and,  after  these  were  exhausted,  was  the  vil- 
lage library.  The  establishment  of  these  social 
libraries  had  been  urged  upon  the  attention  of  the 
people  by  Dr.  Belknap,  who,  in  his  History  of  New 
Hampshire,  says,  the  establishment  of  social  libra- 
ries "  is  the  easiest,  the  cheapest,  and  the  most  effect- 
ual mode  of  diffusing  knowledge  among  the  people. 
For  the  sum  of  six  or  eight  dollars  at  once,  and  a 
small  annual  payment  besides,  a  man  may  be  sup- 
plied with  the  means  of  literary  improvement  during 
his  life,  and  his  children  may  inherit  the  blessing." 
This  hint  commended  itself  to  Mr.  Webster,  and 

40 


SAW    MILL..  41 


other  gentlemen  of  Salisbury,  among  whom  were 
the  clergyman  and  the  lawyer  of  the  place,  who,  at 
a  suitable  time,  acted  upon  the  suggestion,  and  es- 
tablished a  small  library.  Here  young  Webster  was 
able  to  obtain  the  means  of  gratifying  his  love  of 
reading.  Among  the  books  which  he  perused  with 
interest  were  the  Spectator,  Pope's  works,  and  va- 
rious biographies  and  travels. 

Near  the  residence  of  Mr.  Webster  was  a  deep, 
dark  dell,  covered  on  either  side  with  lofty  trees  and 
overhanging  bushes,  at  the  bottom  of  which  flowed 
a  rapid,  noisy  stream,  -which  was  christened  with  the 
rather  unpoetic  name  of  Punch  Brook.  In  this 
secluded  place  the  father  of  Daniel  erected  a  saw- 
mill. As  lumber  of  different  sizes  was  wanted  for 
building  and  various  other  purposes,  Mr.  Webster's 
mill  was  in  great  demand,  and  proved  to  him  a 
source  of  considerable  income.  Colonel  Webster, 
as  Daniel's  father  was  called,  was  anxious  to  form 
in  his  children  habits  of  industry.  Although  he  did 
not  prohibit  play,  he  enjoined  work.  He  often  took 
Daniel,  when  a  small  boy,  to  the  mill  with  him. 
Being  quick  to  learn,  and  willing  to  practise  what 
he  knew,  the  little  fellow  was  soon  able  to  render 
himself  quite  useful  to  his  father  in  the  capacity 
of  mill  boy.  He  understood  how  to  set  the  large 
saw,  how  to  raise  the  gate,  set  the  machinery  in 
motion,  and  then,  how  to  attend  to  the  operation 


42  DANIEL    A    MILL    BOY. 

until  the  long  log  was  sawed  through  its  whole 
length.  The  sawing  of  a  log  once  through  occupied 
about  fifteen  minutes.  It  then  had  to  be  readjusted 
for  the  next  operation.  Whilst  the  saw  was  pass- 
ing through  the  timber,  the  little  mill  boy  was  not 
occupied  with  knife  and  stick,  whittling  away  his 
time ;  neither  did  he  stand  in  listless  indolence, 
looking  on  to  observe  how  slowly  or  how  rapidly 
the  saw  made  progress ;  but,  with  book  in  hand,  he 
was  poring  over  "  the  best  thoughts  of  the  best  au 
thors."  He  was  cultivating  his  taste,  and  gathering 
instruction  and  intellectual  stimulus  from  the  pages 
of  such  men  as  Steele,  Addison,  Pope,  Shakspeare, 
or  other  valuable  writers.  "  There,  in  that  old  saw 
mill,  surrounded  by  forests,  in  the  midst  of  great 
noise,  which  such  a  mill  makes,  and  this,  too,  with- 
out materially  neglecting  his  task,  he  made  himself 
familiar  with  the  most  remarkable  events  recorded 
by  the  pen  of  history,  and  with  the  lives  and  char- 
acters of  the  most  celebrated  persons  who  had  lived 
in  the  tides  of  time.  He  has  never  forgotten  what 
he  read  there.  So  tenacious  is  his  memory,  that  he 
can  recite  long  passages  from  the  old  books  which 
he  read  there,  and  has  scarcely  looked  at  since. 
The  solitude  of  the  scene,  the  absence  of  every 
thing  to  divert  his  attention,  the  simplicity  of  his 
occupation,  the  taciturn  and  thoughtful  manner  of 
his  father,  all  favored  the  process  of  transplanting 


THE  FAMOUS  POCKET  HANDKERCHIEF.     43 

every  idea  found  in  those  books  to  his  fresh,  fruit- 
ful, and  vigorous  mind.  I  have  not  made  a  visit  to 
any  of  the  scenes  of  Mr.  Webster's  boyhood  more 
interesting  than  to  this  old  mill."  * 

It  will  be  appropriate  to  relate,  in  this  connection, 
another  fact,  for  which  we  have  the  authority  of  Mr. 
Webster  himself.  In  his  conversation  respecting  his 
teacher  Hoyt,  a  part  of  which  is  given  on  a  preced- 
ing page,  he  said,  "  Hoyt  also  kept  a  little  shop, 
for  the  sale  of  various  commodities,  in  the  house 
exactly  over  the  way  from  this.  I  do  not  know 
how  old  I  was,  but  I  remember  having  gone  into 
his  shop  one  day,  and  bought  a  small,  cotton  pocket 
handkerchief,  with  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  printed  on  its  two  sides.  From  this  I  first 
learned  either  that  there  was  a  Constitution  or  that 
there  were  United  States.  I  remember  to  have  read 
it,  and  have  known  more  or  less  of  it  ever  since. 
William  Hoyt  and  his  wife  lie  buried  in  the  grave- 
yard under  our  eye,  on  my  farm,  near  the  graves 
of  my  own  family.  He  left  no  children.  I  sup- 
pose that  this  little  handkerchief  was  purchased 
about  the  time  that  I  was  eight  years  old,  as  I  re- 
member listening  to  the  conversation  of  my  father 
and  Mr.  Thompson  upon  political  events  which 
happened  in  the  year  1790."  Another  account 

*  Life  and  Memorial  of  Daniel  Webster 


44  WEBSTER'S  READING. 

states  that  he  paid  for  that  handkerchief  all  the 
money  he  had  in  his  pocket,  which  amounted  to 
twenty-five  cents,  and  that  the  evening  of  that  day 
was  wholly  employed  in  the  careful  perusal  and 
study  of  that  novel  document,  while  seated  by  the 
fireside  in  company  with  his  father  and  mother. 
What  an  interesting  memento  that  handkerchief 
would  now  be,  if  it  could  any  where  be  found  ! 

In  the  character  of  the  reading  which  this  young 
lad  selected,  we  see  the  direction  of  his  mind  ;  and, 
as  we  review  his  subsequent  career,  we  may  discover 
something  of  the  effects  which  his  early  reading 
produced  upon  his  mental  habits  and  tastes.  It 
may,  perhaps,  have  been  a  fortunate  circumstance 
for  him  that,  at  that  time,  there  was  no  "juvenile 
literature."  He  was  therefore  obliged,  if  he  read 
at  all,  to  peruse  works  of  a  higher  character,  by 
means  of  which  his  mental  powers  were  tasked  and 
greatly  strengthened.  He  was  one  of  the  very  few 
who,  at  an  early  age,  are  capable  of  being  interest 
ed  in  the  master  spirits  of  literature.  Many  lads, 
if  placed  in  his  condition,  would  have  spent  their 
time  in  idleness.  They  have  not  the  mental  calibre 
for  understanding,  and  perusing  with  interest,  those 
works  which  gave  him  delight.  For  such  children 
juvenile  works  furnish  the  appropriate  nutriment. 
They  can  endure  nothing  stronger  than  intellectual 
milk  at  an  age  when  Webster  was  digesting  strong 


HIS    WINTER    SPORTS.  45 

meat.  Care  should  be  exercised  lest  they  continue 
the  use  of  such  milk  too  long.  So  numerous,  di- 
versified, and  attractive  are  the  juvenile  books  which 
are  constantly  falling  from  the  press,  that  some  indi- 
viduals make  them  their  exclusive  reading,  who 
ought  to  have  advanced  far  beyond  them,  and  made 
themselves  acquainted  with  the  most  eminent  au- 
thors. Let  such  be  rebuked  by  the  example  of  the 
little  mill  boy  of  Elms  Farm. 

Let  it  not,  however,  be  supposed  that  Webster, 
in  this  early  period  of  his  life,  was  a  recluse.  Far 
from  it.  He  loved  healthy,  out-door  sports,  as  well 
as  other  children.  In  nutting,  squirrel  hunting, 
fishing,  and,  when  old  enough,  in  gunning,  he  took 
as  much  pleasure  as  others. 

In  his  early  years,  New  Hampshire  was  distin- 
guished for  deep  snows  and  long  winters.  These 
gave  opportunity  to  Daniel  to  indulge  in  sports  of 
another  character  —  skating  on  the  ponds,  coasting 
down  hill,  or  rolling  balls,  and  making  snow  men 
and  snow  houses.  Sometimes,  so  great  would  be 
the  quantity  of  snow  as  to  cover  up  all  the  rocks 
and  fences,  and  make  a  smooth  inclined  plane  from 
the  top  of  the  hill  to  the  shore  of  the  Merrimac, 
in  the  vicinity,  down  which  he  would  coast  with  the 
swiftness  of  the  wind,  and  be  carried  by  his  accel- 
erated force  nearly  across  the  frozen  river.  On  the 
coldest  days,  our  little  hero  might  be  seen  wading 


46        OBSERVANCE  OF  THE  SABBATH. 

through  the  deep  drifts,  and  crossing  the  frozen 
brooks,  dragging  after  him  his  sled,  that  with  neigh- 
boring boys  he  might  engage  in  the  healthful  excite 
ment  of  this  invigorating  sport.  On  one  occasion, 
so  interested  had  he  become  in  this  amusement,  and 
so  unmindful  of  the  severity  of  the  cold,  that  he 
froze  the  toes  of  both  his  feet,  and,  as  a  penalty  for 
his  indiscretion,  was  confined  to  his  house  several 
days,  until  his  chilblains  were  healed. 

Like  other  boys,  he  would  sometimes  yield  to  the 
temptations  of  this  sport,  until  it  made  him  late  at 
school,  when  he  was  sure  to  be  reprimanded  by  his 
father.  This  led  him  to  say,  "  there  was  great  fun 
in  sliding  down  hill,  but  there  was  not  much  fun  in 
hearing  his  father  scold,  when  he  staid  out  of 
school  to  enjoy  it."  The  young  should  regard  it 
as  a  settled  fact,  that  there  can  be  no  true  enjoy- 
ment in  going  contrary  to  a  parent's  wishes. 

The  effect  of  these  out-door,  exhilarating  exercises 
was  to  increase  the  robustness  and  strength  of  the 
puny  boy. 

As  the  parents  of  Webster  were  religious  people, 
they  taught  their  children  to  observe  the  Sabbath. 
All  toys  and  sports  were  laid  aside,  and  the  day 
reverently  spent  in  a  manner  that  harmonized  with 
the  object  of  its  appointment.  Although  the  meet- 
ing house  was  four  miles  from  their  residence,  yet 
Mr.  Webster  insisted  upon  his  children's  attendance. 


DEACON  TRUE'S  BOYS  47 

To  this  Daniel  demurred,  because  he  was  obliged  to 
walk  the  whole  distance.  There  was  on  the  r&ad  a 
family  by  the  name  of  True,  who  lived  at  an  equal 
distance  (of  about  two  miles)  from  the  Webstera 
and  the  church,  and  in  which  there  were  some  boys, 
playfellows  of  Daniel,  with  whom  ne  had  many  a 
"good  time."  When,  therefore,  Dan  complained 
that  he  was  compelled  to  walk  so  far  to  meeting, 
his  father  replied, — 

"I  see  Deacon  True's  boys  there  every  Sunday 
regularly,  and  have  never  heard  of  their  complain- 

ing."    . 

Daniel  at  once  saw  that  the  cases  were  not  par- 
allel, and  immediately  said,  — 

"  Ah,  yes  !  the  deacon's  boys  live  half  way  there, 
and  of  course  have  only  half  as  far  to  walk." 

"  Well,"  rejoined  his  father,  "  you  may  get  up 
in  the  morning,  dress  yourself,  and  run  up  to  Dea- 
con True's,  and  go  with  them ;  then  you  will  have 
no  farther  to  walk  than  they  do." 

This  reply,  in  which  there  was  a  vein  of  kindness 
and  good  humor,  was  to  the  lad  perfectly  satisfac- 
tory. It  required  no  self-denial  to  run  up  to  Dea- 
con True's  and  meet  his  playfellows,  and  with  their 
company,  the  walk  to  the  church  could  not  be  oth- 
erwise than  pleasant.  After  this,  therefore,  on  every 
Sabbath  when  the  weather  would  permit,  Daniel 
was  found  in  his  place  at  church,  notwithstanding 
4 


48     WEBSTER  EDUCATED  FOR  A  TEACHER. 

the  four  long  miles.  His  father's  wisdom,  in  ren 
deriiig  his  way  easy,  assisted  him  in  forming  the 
habit  of  constant  attendance  upon  public  worship. 
It  has  been  said  that  "  man  is  a  bundle  of  habits." 
It  cannot  be  denied  that  a  large  part  of  our  con- 
duct is  nothing  more  than  a  repetition  of  acts  pre- 
viously performed.  By  this  repetition  habits  are 
formed.  Many  individuals  regularly  absent  them- 
selves from  the  house  of  God,  and  others  as  regu- 
larly attend,  from  mere  habit.  When  either  of  these 
habits  is  formed,  a  departure  from  it  is  attended 
with  difficulty.  We  sensitively  shrink  from  the 
violation  of  our  established  customs.  This  is  the 
reason  why  individuals,  who  seldom  attend  public 
worship,  find  it  so  irksome  to  go,  and  so  uninterest- 
ing when  there.  This  fact  furnishes  a  strong  in- 
ducement for  "the  formation  of  a  habit  of  constant 
attendance  upon  the  services  of  the  sanctuary ;  for, 
when  formed,  it  will  become  to  us  a  kind  of  second 
nature,  which  will  prevent  our  absence  from  public 
worship  except  from  necessity. 

In  consequence  of  the  constitutional  weakness  of 
young  Webster,  it  appeared  impossible  for  him  to 
gain  a  livelihood  by  hard  labor.  His  father,  there- 
fore, resolved  to  qualify  him  for  the  important,  but 
less  arduous,  duty  of  school  teacher.  This  had 
been  suggested  to  him  by  Mr.  Thompson,  a  lawyer 
who  hoarded  in  Mr.  Webster's  family,  and  who  had 


GOES    TO    PHILLIPS    ACADEMY.  49 

given  Daniel  some  lessons  in  the  Latin  Grammar. 
The  ease  with  which  he  committed  these  lessons  to 
memory,  and  his  general  quickness  of  apprehension, 
induced  Mr.  Thompson  to  advise  his  father  to  send 
him  to  an  academy,  for  the  purpose  of  qualifying 
him  as  a  schoolmaster.  The  mother  was  pleased 
with  the  suggestion,  and.  urged  its  adoption.  His 
brother  Joseph,  who  was  then  of  age,  also  favored 
it.  He  jocosely  assigned  as  a  reason,  that,  "  as  Dan 
had  not  such  bright  natural  talents  a.s  his  brothers 
and  sisters,  a  little  education  would  perhaps  make 
tip  the  deficiency."  The  father  consented.  He 
supposed  that,  according  to  the  customs  of  the  times, 
his  son  would  teach  school  in  the  winter,  and  work 
on  the  farm,  if  his  health  allowed,  in  the  summer. 
As  this  course  had  been  found  profitable  by  some 
of  the  families  in  town,  he  inferred  that  it  would 
result  in  no  loss  to  his  own.  He  therefore  gave 
consent,  little  dreaming  of  the  important  results 
which  were  destined  to  flow  from  his  decision. 

At  that  time  no  academical  institution  stood 
higher  in  New  England  than  Phillips  Academy, 
in  Exeter.  It  had  been  handsomely  endowed  by 
John  Phillips,  LL.  D.,  after  whom  it  was  named, 
whose  donations  and  bequests  to  it  amounted  to  » 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  This  large  sum 
made  it  independent  of  the  income  which  might  be 
received  for  tuition  from  the  pupils.  To  this  insti- 


50  PATRIOTIC    BENEFICENCE. 

tution  Colonel  Webster  determined  to  send  Daniel. 
It  was  a  most  fortunate  circumstance  for  the  rising 
republic  of  the  United  States,  that,  immediately  after 
the  war  for  independence,  the  attention  of  the  peo- 
ple was  directed,  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
with  more  than  usual  interest,  to  educational  affairs. 
Such  was  the  genius  of  the  new  institutions  fb  which 
that  independence  gave  rise,  and  so  great  was  the 
controlling  power  of  the  people  in  political  affairs, 
through  the  elective  franchise,  that  it  was  apparent 
to  all  reflecting  persons,  that  general  intelligence 
among  the  masses  of  the  people  was  essential  to  the 
healthful  working  and  the  perpetuity  of  the  new 
forms  of  government.  Not  only,  therefore,  did  state 
legislatures,  and  the  municipal  officers  of  the  various 
towns,  give  special  consideration  to  educational  mat- 
ters, but  wealthy  gentlemen,  under  the  influence  of 
patriotism,  contributed  freely  of  their  own  private 
funds  for  the  endowment  of  schools  and  colleges. 
As,  in  many  respects,  the  system  of  government  in 
the  United  States  was  unlike  any  other  that  then 
existed,  or  had  ever  been  known  to  exist,  —  as  it  was 
an  experiment,  on  a  magnificent  scale,  of  the  capa- 
bilities of  a  nation  for  self-government,  under  pecu- 
liar laws,  —  it  was  essential  for  the  success  of  the 
experiment  that  a  class  of  men  should  be  raised  up 
who  would  be  able  to  take  correct  and  comprehen- 
sive views  of  all  parts  of  the  complicated  machinery, 


AN    IMPORTANT    DAY.  51 

who  should  understand  all  the  relations  and  inter 
ests  of  the  country  as  a  whole,  and  of  the  individual 
states  of  which  it  was  composed,  and  then  be  able 
clearly  to  unfold  them  to  others.  For  this  purpose 
schools  of  an  elevated  character  were  required,  in 
order  to^iscover  those  who  possessed  the  natural 
talents  for  this  work,  and  then,  by  appropriate  cul- 
ture, to  fit  them  for  the  exercise  of  their  talents,  in 
those  departments  of  influence,  whether  at  the  bar, 
on  the  bench,  or  in  halls  of  legislation,  where  they 
would  render  the  greatest  amount  of  service  to  their 
country.  Such  an  institution  was  Exeter  Academy. 
It  has  had  the  honor  of  assisting  in  the  education 
of  many  who  have  risen  to  high  distinction  in  the 
various  professions,  and  who  have  wielded  a  vast  in- 
fluence over  the  destinies  of  their  country.  Dr. 
Phillips,  by  its  endowment,  rendered  essential  ser- 
vice to  the  interests  of  the  new  republic.  To  this 
school  young  Webster  was  sent. 

The  24th  of  May,  1796,  was  an  important  day  at 
Elms  Farm.  There  had  been  more  than  usual  tus- 
tle  in  the  house  ;  clothes  were  collected,  bundles 
tied ;  children  were  running  to  and  fro,  asking  ques- 
tions and  making  all  kinds  of  remarks  —  the  reason 
of  which  was,  Daniel  was  getting  ready  to  leave  for 
the  academy.  As  Mr.  Webster  had  no  chaise,  or 
other  light  carriage  adapted  to  the  journey,  it  was 
to  be  made  on  horseback.  It  so  happened  that  one 


52  A    PARTING    SCENE. 

of  the  neighbors  was  desirous  of  sending  a  horse 
and  side  saddle  to  the  very  town  where  the  academy 
was  situated,  for  some  female  friend  there,  to  ride 
back  to  Salisbury.  It  was  agreed  that  this  horse 
should  be  used  by  the  young  student.  When  the 
time  of  departure  arrived,  the  two  horses  were 
brought  to  the  door,  and  Daniel,  who  was  dressed 
in  a  new  suit  of  homespun  materials,  was  lifted  upon 
the  one  intended  for  him.  Imagine  the  scene  ! 
The  affectionate  mother,  who  has  all  along  had  a 
presentiment  of  Daniel's  greatness,  stands  at  the 
door,  with  mingled  expressions  of  solicitude  and  joy 
depicted  upon  her  countenance  :  she  has  given  abun- 
dant good  advice,  and  sealed  it  with  not  a  few  burn- 
ing kisses.  Around  are  the  other  children  and 
members  of  the  family,  some  holding  the  horses, 
others  adjusting  the  bundles,  and  all  abandoning 
their  mirthfulness,  and  becoming  more  serious  as 
the  moment  of  departure  arrives.  The  last  shake 
of  the  hand  and  farewell  kiss  are  given,  and  the 
two  travellers  set  out  on  their  journey,  —  little  Dan 
being  perched  upon  the  lady's  side  saddle,  where  he 
was  destined  to  become,  before  night,  more  fatigued 
than  he  had  ever  been  before.  After  a  romantic, 
but  tiresome  ride,  along  the  banks  of  rivers,  through 
valleys,  and  amid  lofty  hills  and  mountains,  on  the 
third  day  they  arrived  at  Exeter.  A  boarding  place 
was  obtained  for  Daniel  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Clif- 


H'KBSTER  LEAVING  HOME  FOR  EXKTER  ACADKMY.  -  P""  D.  B2. 


WEBSTER    BEFORE    DR.    ABBOTT.  53 

ford,  with  whom  his  father  had  some  acquaintance. 
The  d».y  after  their  arrival  he  was  taken  to  the 
academy  Benjamin  Abbott,  LL.  D.,  was  the  prin- 
cipal. He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  and 
felt  it  important  to  maintain  great  dignity  and  a 
regard  to  form,  in  the  administration  of  the  school. 
All  official  duties  were  performed  with  pompous  cer- 
emony. When  Colonel  Webster  stated  the  object 
of  his  visit  to  the  doctor,  who  was  seated  in  a  large 
hall  connected  with  the  academy,  that  important 
personage  placed  upon  his  head  a  cocked  hat,  in 
order  to  make  a  suitable  impression  upon  the  lad, 
and  then  said,  — 

"  Well,  sir,  let  the  young  gentleman  be  presented 
for  examination." 

The  slender-looking  boy  modestly  came  forward, 
and,  though  every  thing  was  new  and  strange,  he 
submitted  to  his  examination  with  great  self-pos- 
session. 

"  What  is  your  age  ?  "  asked  the  venerable 
teacher. 

"  Fourteen,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Take  this  Bible,  my  lad,  and  read  the  twenty- 
second  chapter  of  Luke,"  at  the  same  time  pointing 
it  out  to  him. 

This  chapter  contains  an  account  of  the  institu- 
tion of  the  Lord's  supper,  Christ's  sufferings  in 
Gethsemane,  the  betrayal,  the  seizure,  and  the  ex- 


54  HIS    DIFFIDENCE. 

amination  of  Christ.  Its  different  parts  required  a 
different  style  of  reading.  None  but  a  good  reader 
could  do  the  chapter  justice.  Daniel  took  the  book 
and  read  with  so  much  distinctness  of  enunciation, 
correctness  of  emphasis,  and  skill  in  the  modula- 
tions of  his  voice,  as  to  bring  out  the  true  sense 
of  the  passage,  —  the  doctor  had  no  occasion  to 
interrupt  him.  It  was  a  beautiful  specimen  of  read- 
ing. After  he  had  finished  the  chapter,  the  doctor, 
without  asking  any  questions  whatever,  said,  — 

"  Young  man,  you  are  qualified  to  enter  this  in- 
stitution." 

The  new  student  remained  at  this  academy  nine 
months.  His  diligence,  and  his  capacity  for  acquir- 
ing knowledge,  secured  for  him  not  only  the  warm 
commendations  of  his  teachers,  but,  what  was  better, 
a  good  knowledge  of  the  branches  to  which  he  de- 
voted attention,  among  which,  in  addition  to  the 
usual  English  branches,  was  the  Latin  language. 

It  is  not  easy  always  to  predict  the  man  from  the 
indications  of  youth.  With  some  there  appears  to 
be,  in  early  life,  a  deficiency  of  the  very  traits  in 
which  they  excel  in  later  years.  This  was  true  of 
Webster.  Although  his  fame  as  an  orator  is  world- 
wide, yet,  when  a  boy  of  fourteen,  he  could  not 
summon  sufficient  courage  to  attempt  to  declaim 
before  the  school.  His  own  account  of  this  singular 
fact  is  in  the  following  words :  "  I  believe  I  made 


PERSEVERANCE  COMMENDED.         55 

tolerable  progress  in  most  branches  which  I  attended 
to  while  in  this  school ;  but  there  was  one  thing  I 
could  not  do  —  I  could  not  make  a  declamation  ;  I 
could  not  speak  before  the  school.  The  kind  and 
excellent  Buckminster  sought  especially  to  persuade 
me  to  perform  the  exercise  of  declamation,  like  oth- 
er boys ;  but  I  could  not  do  it.  Many  a  piece  did 
I  commit  to  memory,  and  recite  and  rehearse  in  my 
own  room,  over  and  over  again  ;  yet  when  the  day 
came,  when  the  school  collected  to  hear  the  decla- 
mation, when  my  name  was  called,  and  I  saw  all 
eyes  turned  to  my  seat,  I  could  not  raise  myself 
from  it.  Sometimes  the  instructors  frowned,  some- 
times they  smiled.  Mr.  Buckminster  always  pressed 
and  entreated  most  winningly  that  I  would  venture 
—  venture  only  once;  but  I  never  could  command 
sufficient  resolution." 

From  any  other  witness,  this  would  appear  almost 
incredibte.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  one  who 
has  been  so  highly  distinguished  for  self-reliance  and 
moral  courage,  as  Mr.  Webster,  should  have  been 
so  singularly  deficient  in  these  traits  when  young 
It  was  attributable,  probably,  in  a  great  degree,  to 
his  physical  debility.  He  subsequently  surmounted 
it,  and,  as  we  shall  see,  became  in  college  one  of 
the  most  popular  speakers.  What  encouragement 
does  this  furnish  for  the  young  to  set  themselves 
resolutely  to  work  to  surmount  any  difficulty  that 


56  THE  STUDENT'S  PROMOTION. 

prevents  their  advancement !  By  frequent  repetition, 
by  firm  resolution,  they  may  overcome  embarrass- 
ments which  would  otherwise  prove  fatal  to  their 
success.  Nothing  can  resist  a  determined  spirit. 

When  Webster  first  entered  the  Phillips  Academy, 
he  was  made,  in  consequence  of  his  unpolished, 
country-like  appearance,  and  because  he  was  placed 
at  the  foot  of  the  class,  the  butt  of  ridicule  by  some 
of  the  scholars.  This  treatment  touched  his  keen 
sensibility,  and  he  spoke  of  it  with  regret  to  his 
friends  where  he  boarded.  They  informed  him  that 
the  place  assigned  him  in  the  class  was  according  to 
the  standing  regulations  of  the  school,  and  that  by 
diligence  he  might  rise  above  it.  They  also  advised 
him  to  take  no  notice  of  the  laughter  of  the  city 
boys,  for  after  a  while  they  would  become  weary  of 
it,  and  would  cease.  The  assistant  tutor,  Mr.  Em- 
ery, was  informed  of  the  treatment  which  Webster 
received.  He  therefore  treated  him  with  special 
consideration,  told  him  to  care  for  nothing  but  his 
books,  and  predicted  that  all  would  end  well.  This 
kindness  had  the  desired  effect.  Webster  applied 
himself  with  increased  diligence,  and  with  signal 
success.  He  soon  met  with  his  reward,  which  made 
those  who  had  laughed  at  him  hang  their  heads  with 
shame.  At  the  end  of  the  first  quarter  the  assistant 
tutor  called  up  the  class  in  their  usual  order  ;  lie 
then  walked  to  the  foot  of  the  class,  took  Webster 


HIS    SECOND    PROMOTION.  57 

by  the  arm,  and  marched  him,  in  front  of  the  class, 
to  the  head,  where,  as  fye  placed  him,  he  said, 
"  There,  sir,  that  is  your  proper  place."  This  prac- 
tical rebuke  made  those  who  had  delighted  to  ridi- 
cule the  country  boy,  feel  mortified  and  chagrined. 
He  had  outstripped  them.  This  incident  greatly 
stimulated  the  successful  student.  He  applied  him- 
self with  his  accustomed  industry,  and  looked  for- 
ward with  some  degree  of  solicitude  to  the  end  of 
the  second  term,  to  see  whether  he  would  be  able 
to  retain  his  relative  rank  in  the  class.  Weeks 
slowly  passed  away ;  the  end  of  the  term  arrived, 
and  the  class  was  again  summoned  to  be  newly  ar- 
ranged, according  to  their  scholarship  and  deport- 
ment, as  evinced  during  the  preceding  term.  Whilst 
they  were  all  standing  in  silence  and  suspense,  Mr. 
Emery,  their  teacher,  said,  fixing  his  eye  at  the 
same  time  upon  the  country  boy,  "  Daniel  Webster, 
gather  up  your  books  and  take  down  your  cap." 
Not  understanding  the  design  of  such  an  order, 
Daniel  complied  with  troubled  feelings.  He  knew 
not  but  that  he  was  about  to  be  expelled  from  school 
for  his  dulness.  His  teacher  perceived  the  expres- 
sion of  sadness  upon  his  countenance,  but  soon  dis- 
pelled it  by  saying,  "  Now,  sir,  you  will  please  pass 
into  another  room,  and  join  a  higher  class  :  and  you, 
young  gentlemen,"  addressing  the  other  scholars, 
"will  take  an  affectionate  leave  of  your  classmate, 


58  WHO    WERE    THE    CITY    BOYS  1 

for  you  will  never  see  him  again  !  "  As  if  he  had 
said,  "  This  rustic  lad,  whom  you  have  made  the 
Imtt  of  ridicule,  has  already  so  far  outstripped  you 
in  his  studies,  that  from  your  stand-point  he  is 
dwarfed  in  the  distance,  and  will  soon  be  out  of 
sight  entirely.  He  has  developed  a  capacity  foi 
study  which  will  prevent  you  from  ever  overtaking 
him.  As  a  classmate  you  will  never  see  him  again." 
It  would  be  interesting  to  know  who  those  city 
boys  were,  who  made  the  young  rustic  an  object  of 
sport.  What  have  they  come  to  ?  —  what  have  they 
accomplished  ?  —  who  has  heard  of  the  fame  of  their 
attainments  ?  Scholars  should  be  careful  how  they 
laugh  at  a  classmate  because  of  his  unpolished  man- 
ners or  coarse  raiment.  Under  that  rough  exterior 
may  be  concealed  talents  that  will  move  a  nation 
and  dazzle  a  world,  when  they  in  their  turn  might 
justly  be  made  a  laughing-stock,  oil  account  of  their 
inefficiency. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

\  Sleigh  Ride.  —  Affecting  Incident.  —  Benefits  of  Knowledge.  — 
Advice  to  Youth.  —  A  Supposition.  —  Webster  learns  rapidly.  — 
His  mode  of  Retaliation. —  A  day  for  Pigeon  shooting.  —  In- 
dustrious Boy.  —  His  Habits  broken  —  Blistered  Hands.  —  Goes 
a  Berrying. -—An  amusing  Incident.  —  Poorly  fitted  for  Col- 
lege. —  Importance  of  a  good  Preparation  for  College.  —  False 
Position.  —  Webster's  Ride  to  Hanover.  —  Great  Freshet.  — 
Appears  before  the  Faculty  for  Examination.  —  Blue  Dan.  — 
Passes  the  Ordeal  safely.  —  Enters  College  at.  the  age  of 
Fifteen. 

AFTER  leaving;  Exeter  Academy,  Webster  was 
placed  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Samuel  Woods,  D.  D., 
of  Boscawen.  This  change  was  probably  made  for 
economical  reasons,  as  Dr.  Woods  gave  instruction 
and  board  to  lads  for  only  one  dollar  per  week, 
which  was  less  than  the  expenses  at  Exeter.  He 
was  now  in  his  fifteenth  year,  with  a  fair  knowledge 
of  the  English  branches,  and  a  considerable  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Latin. 

On  his  way  to  Dr.  Woods's,  an  interesting  inci- 
dent occurred,  of  which  Mr.  Webster  himself  has 
given  the  account.  It  seems  that  his  father,  through 
the  kind  suggestions  of  others,  who  had  discovered 
the  innate  powers  of  Daniel,  had  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion to  send  him  to  college.  But  this  determination 
he  did  not  reveal  to  his  son  till  he  was  on  the  way 

59 


60  AN    IMPORTANT    ANNOUNCEMENT. 

to  Dr.  Woods's.     The  announcement   deeply  affect- 
ed him. 

It  was  in  the  depth  of  winter.  The  ground  was 
covered  with  deep  snow.  Webster  and  his  father 
were  travelling  in  a  New  England  sleigh,  common- 
ly called  a  pung.  As  they  were  ascending  a  hill,  Mr. 
Webster  told  Daniel  that  he  was  going  to  send  him 
to  college.  This  sudden  and  unexpected  announce- 
ment overcame  the  lad.  This  was  an  honor  to 
which,  in  his  most  ambitious  moments,  he  had  never 
aspired.  To  be  "  college  learned,"  in  those  days, 
was  a  passport  to  the  most  intelligent  and  refined 
society.  It  was  regarded  as  a  preparation  for  any 
of  the  professions.  It  at  once  gave  an  individual  a 
respectable  position  in  society  ;  and  whilst  it  devel- 
oped all  the  capacities  which  he  possessed,  it  was 
supposed  to  impart  others,  of  which  he  was  previ 
ously  destitute.  The  relative  position  of  a  college 
graduate,  at  that  time,  was  far  higher  iii  the  commu- 
nity than  now,  when  their  number  is  so  greatly  in 
creased. 

A  lad  of  fourteen,  who  had  been  acquainted  with 
but  very  few  who  had  been  favored  with  a  collegiate 
education,  and  who  regarded  them  with  a  veneration 
above  that  which  he  cherished  towards  other  men, 
could  not  have  been  otherwise  than  deeply  moved  at 
such  a  communication.  To  use  his  own  language, 
"  I  could  not  speak.  How  could  my  father,  with  so 


AN    AFFECTING    SCENE.  61 

larg€:  a  family,  and  in  such  narrow  circumstances, 
think  of  incurring  so  great  an  expense  for  me  1  A 
warm  glow  ran  all  over  me,  and  /  laid  my  head  on 
my  father's  shoulder,  and  wept."  He  wept  from  ex- 
cess of  joy !  How  different  were  his  feelings  from 
those  of  many  at  the  present  day,  who,  when  the 
privilege  of  a  collegiate  course  of  education  is  of- 
fered them,  regard  the  proposition  as  a  great  afflic- 
tion, and  cry  from  sorrow !  They  are  unwilling  to 
avail  themselves  of  benefits  which  others  would 
highly  value.  They  do  not  appreciate  them  ;  the 
golden  opportunity  they  throw  away;  and  proba- 
bly, at  some  future  period,  when  it  is  too  late  to 
repair  the  disaster,  they  will  deeply  regret  their 
folly. 

If  this  book  should  fall  into  the  hands  of  any  such 
youth,  we  would  say  to  them,  Look  forward  to  the 
future.  Remember,  you  will  not  always  be  boys. 
You  are  in  a  few  year?  to  take  your  place  amongst 
men,  and  in  order  to  be  qualified  to  exert  much  in- 
fluence over  them,  you  must  be  educated.  You 
are  now  placed  in  an  enviable  position  ;  by  rightly 
improving  your  advantages,  you  will  qualify  your- 
selves  to  occupy  important  stations  ;  you  will  be  fit- 
ted to  move,  and  to  feel  at  home,  in  the  most  intel- 
ligent circles.  Your  opinions  will  be  respected  ; 
they  will  have  weight  with  others.  Your  advice  will 
be  sought  in  important  matters.  You  will  be  looked 
5 


02  GET    KNOWLEDGE. 

to  to  fill  places  of  trust  and  responsibility.  You 
will  honor  yourselves  and  your  families.  And  it  is 
not  impossible  for  you  to  attain  to  high  distinction  in 
any  of  the  learned  professions,  or  to  reach  some  of 
the  most  honorable  and  responsible  positions  in  the 
state  or  national  governments.  Who  would  have 
supposed  that,  when  that  puny  lad  from  the  back- 
woods of  New  Hampshire  was  made  an  object  of 
ridicule  by  the  "  city  boys,"  that  he  would  ever 
reach  the  exalted  stations  he  did,  and  after  filling  the 
world  with  the  splendor  of  his  eloquence  and  states- 
manship, would  be  followed  to  the  grave  by  the  re- 
grets of  millions  1  It  is  no  more  unlikely,  now,  that 
you  may  acquire  distinction,  than  it  was  in  his  case, 
when  he  was  of  your  age.  But  suppose  that  he  had 
disliked  study  ;  suppose  that,  when  his  father,  as 
they  were  ascending  that  hill  in  a  cold  winter's  day, 
informed  him  that  he  might  go  to  college,  he  had 
expressed  an  unwillingness,  and  had  dissuaded  his 
father  from  his  purpose  ;  what  would  Daniel  Webster 
have  been  now  1  He  might  possibly,  by  the  force 
of  his  natural  talents,  have  excelled  in  any  kind  of 
business  to  which  he  would  have  devoted  himself; 
but  is  it  probable  that  he  would  ever  have  been  a 
senator  of  the  United  States,"  or  a  member  of  the 
president's  cabinet  ?  Indeed,  on  one  occasion,  — 
as  we  shall  presently  relate,  —  his  own  father  assigns 
as  a  reason  why  he  was  not  elected  a  member  of 


COMMENDABLE     RETALIATION.  63 

Congress,  instead  of  his  successful  competitor,  was 
because  of  his  want  of  education. 

During  the  time  that  Webster  was  with  Dr. 
Woods  he  always  gave  satisfactory  recitations.  But 
he  found  it  so  easy  to  learn  that  the  preparation  of 
his  lessons  occupied  but  a  short  time ;  he  consequent- 
ly had  much  leisure,  which  he  spent  in  the  indul- 
gence of  his  love  of  nature,  in  fishing  and  gunning. 
With  rod  or  gun  in  hand,  he  spent  hour  after  hour 
in  wandering  along  the  streams,  or  rambling  over 
the  fields.  His  teacher,  who  had  but  little  sympathy 
for  these  employments,  administered  to  him  a  rebuke 
for  his  wandering  habits,  tempering  it,  however,  with 
compliments  for  his  quickness  in  learning.  He  was 
fearful  that  this  fondness  for.  out-door  sports  might 
exert  an  injurious  influence  upon  the  other  students. 
Webster  felt  this  rebuke,  and  determined  to  retaliate 
in  a  way  that  would  tax  the  doctor's  patience.  His 
lesson  for  the  next  day  was  a  hundred  lines  in  Vir- 
gil. He  applied  himself  diligently,  and  occupied  a 
good  portion  of  the  night,  not  in  simply  learning 
those  hundred  lines,  but  in  committing  to  memory 
many  more.  At  the  recitation  next  morning,  he 
despatched  the  hundred  lines,  for  which  he  received 
.  the  commendation  of  his  teacher.  "  I  can  recite 
some  more,"  said  the  student.  "  Go  on,  then,"  was 
the  reply.  Another  hundred  lines  were  repeated. 
The  teacher  was  equally  surprised  and  gratified. 


64  THE   BETTER    WAY. 

"  But  I  have  not  done  yet,"  snid  Webstei  ;  "  I  can 
give  you  another  hundred  lines,  and  another  hundred 
beyond  that ;  I  can  give  you  jive  hundred ;  I  can  re- 
cite to  the  end  of  the  twelfth  book"  The  teacher 
was  amazed  ;  he  had  not  time  to  hear  so  much  •, 
his  breakfast  had  for  some  time  been  waiting  for 
him,  and  he  was  impatient  to  be  at  it.  This  was 
what  Webster  had  anticipated,  and  where  he  had 
intended  to  tax  the  old  gentleman.  He  was  deter- 
mined to  retain  him  so  long  in  hearing  his  recitation 
as  to  make  him  have  a  late  breakfast  ;  but  the 
teacher  would  not  wait :  after  praising  his  pupil  for 
his  industry,  he  asked  to  be  excused  from  listening  to 
him  any  longer,  and  said,  "  You  may  have  the  whole 
day,  Dan,  for  pigeon  shooting."  Dan  rambled  to 
his  heart's  content  that  day,  without  any  compunc- 
tions of  conscience,  or  any  fear  of  rebukes  from  the 
doctor. 

How  much  better  that  mode  of  retaliation  was 
than  for  him  to  have  thrown  aside  his  books  in  a  fit 
of  passion,  and  played  the.  dunce  for  a  few  days  ! 
In  that  case  the  punishment  would  have  been  ex- 
exclusively  his  own. 

Prior  to  the  time  that  Daniel  left  home,  in  order 
to  pursue  his  studies,  he  was  industrious  to  the  ex- 
tent of  his  physical  strength.  He  assisted  his  father 
at  the  mill ;  he  worked  with  the  men  in  the  fields 
driving  the  horse  in  ploughing,  pitching  hay,  or  run 


DANIEL    BLISTERS    HIS    HANDS.  C5 

ning  of  errands;  but  after  having  been  away  from 
home  a  number  of  months,  these  habits  of  industry 
were  broken  up,  and  when  he  returned  to  the  old 
homestead,  it  was  more  agreeable  for  him  to  play 
than  to  work,  as  the  following  incident  will  show. 

Whilst  he  was  studying  at  Boscawen  with  Dr, 
Woods,  his  father  on  one  occasion  sent  for  him  to 
come  home.  Haying  season  had  arrived,  and  he 
needed  more  assistance  than  usual  at  Elms  Farm. 
The  young  lad  packed  up  his  clothes,  and  complied 
with  his  father's  orders.  The  day  after  his  arrival, 
he  went  into  the  field  to  work,  the  father  in  the 
mean  time  visiting  a  neighboring  town  on  business. 
Before  the  forenoon  was  expired,  Daniel  returned  to 
the  house,  and  told  his  mother  that  he  was  greatly 
fatigued  ;  and  holding  up  his  hands,  he  showed  blis- 
ters, which,  he  said,  would  prevent  him  from  working 
any-  more.  His  affectionate  mother  excused  him,  as 
he  probably  anticipated  ;  but  Dan  had  no  idea  of 
losing  the  whole  day  ;  so,  after  dinner,  he  tackled  the 
horse  to  a  wagon,  placed  into  it  two  of  his  sisters, 
and  drove  oft*  to  a  well-known  berry  pasture,  where 
they  expected  to  find  an  abundance  of  whortle,  or 
huckleberries.  Here  he  spent  the  remainder  of  the 
afternoon,  as  boys,  under  such  circumstances,  know 
how. 

When  his  father  returned  home  at  night,  and 
ascertained  how  his  son  had  spent  the  day,  instead 


66  RETURNS    TO    SCHOOL. 

of  flying  into  a  violent  passion,  he  laughed  over  the 
matter,  and  sent  his  tender  son  to  bed.  After  break- 
fast was  over,  the  next  morning,  being  convinced 
that  he  would  obtain  but  little  assistance  from  his 
son,  and  not  being  willing  to  detain  him  uselessly 
from  his  studies  during  term  time,  his  father  put 
into  his  delicate  hand  his  bundle  of  clothes,  and 
pointed,  in  a  manner  too  significant  to  be  misunder- 
stood, towards  Boscawen.  The  boy  immediately 
started  off.  He  had  not  gone  far  before  he  saw  one 
of  the  neighbors,  Mr.  Thomas  W.  Thompson,  who 
knew  why  he  had  come  home. 

"  Where  are  you  going,  Dan  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Back  to  school,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  thought  it  would  be  so,"  added  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, with  an  expressive  smile  upon  his  countenance. 

And  back  to  the  company  of  Virgil  and  Cicero 
did  the  young  student  return.  ". 

Pronounce  not  harsh  judgment  upon  this  piece 
of  juvenility  in  Daniel.  He  seems  to  have  com- 
menced work  with  hearty  good  will,  but  not  having 
been  engaged  in  vigorous,  muscular  employment  for 
some  months,  he  soon  became  blistered  and  tired. 
Even  then  he  did  not  throw  aside  his  rake  and  fork 
and  run  off,  with  the  intention  of  showing  his  blis- 
tered hands  to  his  father  in  the  evening,  as  his  apol- 
ogy. But,  as  a  child  in  his  circumstances  should 
have  done,  he  related  the  whole  case  to  his  mother 


IS    FITTED    FOR    COLLEGF.  67 

and  obtained  her  permission  to  leave  the  field.  And 
when  he  found  a  long  afternoon  on  his  hands,  instead 
of  strolling  off  alone,  with  fishing  pole  or  gun,  he 
tackles  the  horse,  and,  like  an  affectionate  brother, 
takes  his  two  sisters  a  berrying  —  an  amusement  in 
which  children  take  great  delight. 

It  may  be  settled  as  a  general  fact,  that  but  little 
physical  labi>r  can  be  expected  of  students,  either 
during  term  time  or  vacations.  They  leave  their 
studies,  not  for  work,  but  relaxation,  and  under  these 
circumstances  continuous  physical  exertion  soon  be 
comes  irksome  to  them.  It  is  truly  a  hardship  when 
students  are  obliged  to  work  through  their  whole 
vacations,  in  order  to  defray  the  expense  of  their 
education. 

Master  Webster  pursued  his  studies  with  Mr. 
Wood  from  February  till  August,  1797,  and  fitted 
himself,  imperfectly  however,  for  college.  His  time 
of  preparation  was  too  limited  for  him  to  do  it  well. 
"  Still,  however,"  says  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  in  his 
Biographical  Memoir,  "  when  we  hear  of  a  youth 
of  fifteen  preparing  himself  for  college  by  a  year's 
study  of  Greek  and  Latin,  we  must  recollect  that 
the  attainments  which  may  be  made  in  that  time, 
by  a  young  man  of  distinguished  talent,  at  the  pe- 
riod of  life  when  the  faculties  develop  themselves 
with  the  greatest  energy,  studying  night  and  day, 
summer  and  winter,  under  the  master  influence  of 


68  A    GREAT    MISTAKE. 

hope,  ambition,  and  necessity,  are  not  to  be  meas 
ured  by  tbe  tardy  progress  of  the  thoughtless  or 
languid  children  of  prosperity,  sent  to  school  from 
the  time  they  are  able  to  go  alone,  and  carried  along 
by  routine  and  discipline  from  year  to  year,  in  the 
majority  of  cases  without  strong  personal  motives 
to  diligence." 

This  limited  degree  of  preparation  for  college 
studies  was  to  Webster  a  great  disadvantage.  It 
subjected  him  to  embarrassments  during  his  whole 
course,  from  which  his  classmates  derived  advantage. 
He  often  spoke  of  it,  in  subsequent  years,  with 
regret. 

It  is  a  great  mistake  in  young  men  to  imagine 
they  have  gained  a  year,  when  they  enter  college 
poorly  fitted,  by  which  means  they  are  able  to  grad- 
uate a  year  earlier  than  they  otherwise  would  have 
done.  They  lose  in  scholarship  what  they  gain  in 
time. 

A  young  man  who  commences  a  college  course 
poorly  qualified  meets  ofttimes  with  difficulties  which, 
though  insuperable  to  him,  his  classmates  easily  sur- 
mount. This  places  him  in  a  somewhat  false  posi- 
tion, especially  if  such  difficulties  frequently  occur, 
for  it  gives  him  the  appearance  of  possessing  less 
intellectual  power  or  acumen  than  the  other?,  when 
such  is  not  the  case.  It  arises  simply  from  the  fact 
that  the  subject  is  comparatively  new  to  him,  but, 


WEBSTER'S  JOURNEY  TO  HANOVER.  <>9 

in  consequence  of  their  longer  course  of  prepara- 
tion, during  which  the  same  subject  was  studied  and 
reviewed,  it  is  familiar  to  them.  Still  the  unfortu- 
nate student  is  obliged  to  go  limping  after  his  class, 
with  a  painful  feeling  of  mortification  and  despond- 
ency ;  and  if  he  succeed  in  obtaining  a  diploma,  it 
is  as  much  as  he  expects.  Any  particularly  honor- 
able position  is  out  of  the  question.  Yet  the  same 
individual,  if  he  had  been  well  qualified  for  entrance, 
might  have  led  his  class  in  all  their  studies,  and 
graduated  with  the  highest  honors.  We  commend 
these  considerations  to  the  attention  of  those  who 
are  so  impatient  to  enter  college  as  to  shorten  their 
period  of  preparation. 

When  the  time  arrived  for  the  student  of  Elms 
Farm  to  visit  Dartmouth  College,  for  the  purpose 
of  being  matriculated,  a  neighbor  made  for  him  a 
new  suit  of  clothes,  —  coat,  vest,  and  pantaloons,  — 
all  of  homespun  cloth  of  the  deepest  blue.  He  made 
his  journey  on  horseback,  —  not  this  time,  however, 
on  a  side  saddle.  On  his  way  he  was  overtaken  by 
a  violent  rain  storm,  which  lasted  forty-eight  hours, 
created  a  freshet,  bore  away  the  bridges,  and  sub- 
jected him  to  the  necessity  of  travelling  round  the 
country  twenty  extra  miles,  in  order  to  find  a  cross- 
ing-place over  the  streams.  When  he  arrived  he 
was  completely  soaked  with  the  rain.  The  new 
garments  which  he  wore  seem  not  to  have  been 


7C  HIS    EXAMINATION    AND    ADMISSION. 

made  of  fast  colors,  for  upon  examination  Mr.  Web- 
ster found  that  the  indigo  hue,  after  penetrating  all 
his  under  clothing,  had  deeply  dyed  his  skin,  so  that 
instead  of  being  a  green  country  boy,  he  was  de 
cidedly  blue.  After  a  little  attention  to  his  toilet, 
he  presented  himself  before  the  faculty  for  examina- 
tion. After  having  given  an  account  of  the  oppor- 
tunities for  study  of  which  he  had  availed  himself, 
—  the  books  he  had  read,  the  branches  he  had  at- 
tended to,  and  after  answering  the  questions  which 
they  proposed,  —  he  told  them  of  the  difficulties  he 
had  experienced  in  reaching  Hanover.  "  Thus," 
said  he,  "  you  see  me  as  I  am  "  —  referring  to  his 
cerulean  appearance  —  "  if  not  entitled  to  your  ap 
probation,  at  least  to  your  sympathy."  He  has 
since  said  of  himself,  when  alluding  to  that  inter- 
view, that  he  "  was  not  only  black  Dan,  but  blue 
Dan."  Very  fortunately,  that  change  of  color  was 
not  produced,  as  in  the  case  of  some  others,  by  the 
rejection  of  the  faculty. 

The  object  of  Daniel's  visit  to  Hanover  was  ac- 
complished. He  safely  passed  the  ordeal  which 
students  so  generally  dread,  and  was  admitted  a 
member  of  the  Freshman  class  in  Dartmouth  College 
in  August,  1797,  at  the  age  of  fifteen, 


CHAPTER    V. 

Webster  is  classed  low.  —  He  soon  rises.  —  His  Industry  in  Col- 
lege.—  Advice  to  Undergraduates. — College  Temptations.— 
Their  Antidote.  —  Webster  studies  Oratory.  —  His  personal 
Appearance.  —  Delivers  a  Fourth  of  July  Oration.  —  Great 
Britain's  Injustice  in  the  French  War.  —  English  Oppres- 
sions.—  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  —  Declaration  of  Independ- 
.ence.  —  Webster's  Address  to  the  Revolutionary  Fathers.  — 
Remarks  upon  the  Oration.  —  He  delivers  a  funeral  Eulogy. — 
Mortality  a  Principle  of  Action.  —  Prepare  for  the  Future. — 
Religious  Suggestions. 

IN  consequence  of  his  imperfect  preparation  for 
collegiate  studies,  Webster  was  obliged  to  take  a 
low  place  in  his  class  —  it  is  said,  the  foot.  To  a 
mind  constituted  like  his,  that  would  have  been  an 
affliction,  provided  he  had  gone  over  the  same  pre- 
paratory course  with  the  rest  of  the  class.  So  far 
was  this  from  being  the  case,  that  some  of  the  text 
books  used  in  college  he  had  never  seen,  while  other 
members  of  the  class  were  familiar  with  them. 
What  to  him  was  the  breaking  of  entirely  new 
ground  was  to  them  a  mere  retracing  of  old  paths, 
which  they  had  repeatedly  traversed  before.  In  the 
Latin  language  he  was  at  home.  This  had  always 
been  to  him  a  favorite  study.  To  the  Greek  he  was 
not  particularly  partial.  For  mathematics  he  had 

71 


72       WEBSTER'S  PBEEMINENCE  IN  COLLEGE. 

special  fondness,  though  to  both  these  latter  branches 
he  devoted  the  usual  amount  of  attention,  and  made 
respectable  progress.  With  ancient  and  modern 
geography  and  history,  and  with  logic,  he  was  highly 
delighted.  During  his  course  in  college  he  did  not 
confine  himself  to  the  routine  of  specified  studies, 
but  indulged  in  a  wide  range  of  reading  in  English 
literature  and  history.  He  also  assisted  in  conduct- 
ing a  weekly  paper,  by  making  selections  for  its 
columns,  and  occasionally  contributing  an  original 
article.  It  was  not  long  before  he  reached  that 
commanding  eminence  among  his  fellows,  to  which, 
by  his  towering  talents  and  great  attainments,  he 
was  justly  entitled.  The  faculty,  as  well  as  the  stu- 
dents, by  the  respect  with  which  they  treated  him, 
and  the  deference  they  paid  his  opinions,  yielded 
their  willing  testimony  to  his  extraordinary  abilities. 
He  thus  illustrated  the  truth,  that  every  person, 
however  false  may  be  the  position  in  which,  by  a 
combination  of  unfortunate  circumstances,  he  is  at 
any  time  placed,  may,  by  persevering  industry,  find 
his  true  level. 

What  his  habits  were  in  college  we  learn  from 
the  following  witnesses.  Professor  ShurtlifF,  who 
was  in  the  same  class  with  him,  says,  "Mr  Webster, 
while  in  college,  was  remarkable  for  his  steady  hab- 
its, his  intense  application  to  study,  and  his  punctual 
attendance  upon  ah1  the  prescribed  exercises.  I 


MIS  CHARACTER  IN  COLLEGE.         73 

• 

know  not  that  he  was  absent  from  a  recitation;  or 
from  morning  and  evening  prayers  in  the  chapel,  or 
from  public  worship  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and  I  doubt  if 
ever  a  smile  was  seen  upon  his  face  during  any  re- 
ligious exercise.  He  was  always  in  his  place,  and 
with  decorum  suited  to  it.  He  had  no  collision 
with  any  one,  nor  appeared  to  enter  into  the  con- 
cerns of  others,  but  emphatically  minded  his  own  busi- 
ness. But,  as  steady  as  the  sun,  he  pursued  with  in- 
tense application  the  great  object  for  which  he  came  to 
college.  This  I  conceive  was  the  secret  of  his  popu- 
larity in  college,  and  his  success  in  subsequent  life." 
What  an  example  is  here  furnished  for  undergrad- 
uates and  all  other  young  students  !  If  they  desire 
to  acquire  popularity  with  their  companions,  or 
"success  in  subsequent  life,"  they  must,  like  the 
subject  of  our  memoir,  be  distinguished  for  "  steady 
habits  and  intense  application  to  study."  They  must 
mind  their  man  business,  and  keep  constantly  before 
them  the  great  object  for  which  they  are  pursuing  a 
course  of  education.  To  do  all  this  is  no  easy  task 
Temptations  to  deviate  from  this  straightforward., 
single-minded  course  are  numerous  and  strong 
They  spring  out  of  one's  natural  indolence  ;  from 
the  difficulty  of  acquiring  knowledge ;  from  the 
enjoyments  of  social  intercourse ;  from  the  en- 
ticements of  the  wine  cup ;  and  from  the  excitement 
of  the  passions.  There  are  circumstances  in  which 


74  TEMPTATIONS. 

• 

a  student  may  be  placed,  where,  unless  he  possess 
great  decision  of  character  and  firmness  of  purpose, 
he  will  certainly  be  led  astray.  He  will  not  be  able 
to  resist  the  strong  current  of  evil  influences  which 
will  bear  down  upon  him.  This,  however,  will  not 
be  likely  to  be  the  case  with  those  who^like  Web- 
ster, in  addition  to  devoting  themselves  diligently  to 
study,  are  punctual  and- serious  in  their  attendance 
upon  morning  and  evening  prayers,  and  upon  the 
public  services  of  the  Sabbath.  It  furnishes  an  un- 
favorable augury  to  any  young  man's  future  pros- 
pects, when  these  religious  duties  are  neglected. 

Another  witness,  who  bears  testimony  to  Mr.  Web- 
ster's position  in  college,  is  Judge  Woodward,  pro- 
fessor of  natural  philosophy,  who  died  soon  after 
Mr.  Webster  was  graduated.  "  That  man's  victory 
is  certain,"  said  he,  "  who  reaches  the  heart  through 
the  medium  of  the  understanding.  He  [f.  e.,  Mr. 
Webster]  gained  me  by  combating  my  opinions, 
for  I  often  attacked  him,  merely  to  try  his  strength." 
It  would  be  interesting  to  know  what  some  of  those 
questions  were  on  which  the  judge  tested  the  strength 
of  his  pupil,  and  what  line  of  argument  was  pur- 
sued by  the  latter.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  judging 
from  the  effect  produced  upon  the  professor's  mind, 
that,  in  these  intellectual  contests,  Webster  exhibited 
great  logical  power,  combined  with  dignity  and  cour- 
tesy. He  secured  the  respect  of  his  teacher  by  hia 


HE    STUDIES    ORATORY.  75 

skill  and  gentlemanly  bearing  in  debate,  and  induced 
him,  very  early  after  their  first  acquaintance,  to  pre- 
dict his  future  greatness.  The  judge  considered  it 
a  great  privilege  to  be  the  instructor  of  one  of  so 
much  promise.  Says  General  Lyman,  "  He  took 
infinite  pleasure  in  assisting  to  lay  the  foundation 
stones  of  what  he  felt  was  to  be  a  magnificent.^ 
building." 

While  at  college,  Mr.  Webster  devoted  special  at- 
tention to  the  study  of  oratory.  He  made  himself 
familiar  with  its  fundamental  principles,  and  with  the 
speeches  of  those  who  had  excelled  in  this  delightful 
art.  Having  a  deep,  yet  musical  voice,  a  command- 
ing personal  appearance,  a  high,  projecting  forehead, 
and  dark,  piercing  eyes,  and  conducting  himself  with 
great  dignity  of  manner,  and  with  courteous  defer- 
ence to  his  hearers,  he  was  always  listened  to  with 
pleasure.  He  became  so  popular  as  a  speaker,  that 
when  only  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  to  the 
members  of  college  and  the  citizens  of  Hanover. 
This,  certainly,  was  a  high  honor  to  reach  at  so  early 
an  age,  and  it  was,  if  possible,  increased  by  the  re- 
quest for  the  publication  of  the  oration,  from  those 
who  heard  it.  It  shows  that  he  produced  a  strong, 
favorable  impression. 

As  this  was  the  first  public  address  delivered  by 
Mr.  Webster,  of  which  any  record  has  been  pre 


an 
h,t 


76  HIS    FOURTH    OF    JULY    ORATION. 

served,  it  is  a  source  of  gratification  that  it  was 
printed,  and  that  one  copy,  at  least,  of  the  original 
edition  has  survived  to  the  present  time.  Of  this 
General  Lyman  has  made  copious  use  in  his  "  Me- 
morials." It  is  exceedingly  interesting  to  read  this 
oration,  and  compare  the  tone  of  its  patriotism, 

d  the  style  of  its  composition,  with  those  of  his 
later  productions.  It  will  be  seen  that,  though  his 
rhetoric  was  afterwards  greatly  modified,  his  love  of 
country  remained  unaltered. 

We  cannot,  perhaps,  perform  a  more  acceptable 
service  than  by  presenting  several  extracts  from 
it,  in  order  to  furnish  the  reader  an  opportunity  of 
making  this  comparison  for  himself.  His  introduc- 
tion was  as  follows  :  — 

"  Countrymen,  Brethren,  and  Fathers :  We  are 
now  assembled  to  celebrate  an  anniversary  ever  to 
be  held  in  dear  remembrance  by  the  sons  of  freedom. 
Nothing  less  than  the  birth  of  a  nation  —  nothing  less 
than  the  emancipation  of  three  millions  of  people 
from  the  degrading  chains  of  foreign  dominion  —  is 
the  event  we  commemorate.  Twenty-four  years 
have  this  day  elapsed  since  these  United  ,States  first 
raised  the  standard  of  liberty,  and  echoed  the 
shouts  of  independence. 

"  Those  of  you  who  were  then  reaping  the  iron 
harvest  of  the  martial  field,  whose  bosoms  then  pal- 
pitated for  the  honor  of  America,  will  at  this  time 


BRITAIN'S  INJUSTICE.  77 

experience  a  renewal  of  all  that  fervent  patriotism, 
of  all  those  indescribable  emotions,  which  then  agi- 
tated your  breasts.  As  for  us,  who  were  either  then 
unborn,  or  not  far  enough  advanced  beyond  the 
threshold  of  existence  to  engage  in  the  grand  con- 
flict for  liberty,  we  now  most  cordially  unite  with 
you  to  greet  the  return  of  this  joyous  anniversary, 
to  welcome  the  return  of  the  day  that  gave  us  free- 
dom, and  to  hail  the  rising  glories  of  our  country  ! 

"  On  occasions  like  this,  you  have  hitherto  been 
addressed  from  the  stage,  on  the  nature,  the  origin, 
the  expediency,  of  civil  government.  The  field  of 
political  speculation  has  here  been  explored  by  per- 
sons possessing  talents  to  which  the  speaker  of  the 
day  can  have  no  pretensions.  Declining,  therefore, 
a  dissertation  on  the  principles  of  civil  polity,  you 
will  indulge  me  in  slightly  sketching  those  events 
which  have  originated,  matured,  and  raised  to  its 
present  grandeur  this  new  empire." 

After  describing  the  isolated  and  gloomy  condi- 
tion of  the  first  colonists,  he  touches  upon  the 
French  war,  in  which  he  accuses  Great  Britain  of 
"  presumptuously  arrogating  to  herself  the  glory  of 
victories  acquired  by  the  bravery  of  the  American 
militia,"  and  then  adds,  — 

"  But  while  Great  Britain  was  thus  tyrannically 
stripping  her  colonies  of  their  well-earned  laurels, 
and  triumphantly  weaving  them  into  the  stupendous 
fi 


78  ENGLISH    OPPRESSION. 

wreath  of  her  own  martial  glories,  she  was  unwit 
tingly  teaching  them  to  value  themselves,  and  effect 
ually  to  resist  on  a  future  day  her  unjust  encroach- 
ments. 

"  The  pitiful  tale  of  taxation  now  commences  : 
the  unhappy  quarrel  which  resulted  in  the  dismem- 
berment of  the  British  empire  has  here  its  origin.  • 
"  England,  now  triumphant  over  the  united 
powers  of  France  and  Spain,  is  determined  to  re- 
duce to  the  condition  of  slaves  her  American 
subjects. 

"  We  might  now  display  the  legislatures  of  the 
several  states,  together  with  the  General  Congress, 
petitioning,  praying,  remonstrating,  and,  like  dutiful 
subjects,  humbly  laying  their  grievances  before  the 
throne.  On  the  other  hand,  we  could  exhibit  a 
British  Parliament  •  assiduously  devising  means  to 
subjugate  America,  disdaining  our  petitions,  tram- 
pling on  our  rights,  and  menacingly  telling  us,  in  lan- 
guage not  to  be  misunderstood,  «  Ye  shall  be  slaves."1 
We  could  mention  the  haughty,  tyrannical,  perfidious 
Gage,  at  the  head  of  a  standing  army ;  we  could 
show  our  brethren  attacked  and  slaughtered  at  Lex- 
ington !  our  property  plundered  and  destroyed  at 
Concord  !  Recollections  can  still  pain  us  with  the 
spiral  flames  of  burning  Charlestown,  the  agonizing 
groans  of  aged  parents,  the  shrieks  of  widows,  or- 
phans, and  infants. 


DECLARATION    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  79 

"  Indelibly  impressed  on  our  memories  still  live 
the  dismal  scenes  of  Bunker's  awful  mount,  the 
grand  theatre  of  New  England  bravery ;  where 
Slaughter  stalked  grimly  triumphant,  where  relent- 
less Britain  saw  her  soldiers,  the  unhappy  instru- 
ments of  despotism,  fallen  beneath  the  nervous  arm 
o/  injured  freemen. 

«'  There  the  great  Warren  fought,  and  there,  alas  ! 
he  fell.  Valuing  life  only  as  it  enabled  him  to 
serve  his  country,  he  freely  resigned  himself,  a  will- 
ing martyr  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  now  lies  en- 
circled in  the  arms  of  glory. 

"  But,  haughty  Albion,  thy  reign  shall  soon  be 
over  !  Thou  shall  triumph  no  longer  ;  thine  em- 
pire already  reels  and  totters  ;  thy  laurels  even  now 
begin  to  wither,  and  thy  fame  to  decay.  Thou  hast 
at  length  roused  the  indignation  of  an  insulted  peo- 
ple; thine  oppressions  they  deem  no  longer  toler- 
ublc. 

"  The  4th  day  of  July,  1776,  has  now  arrived, 
and  America,  manfully  springing  from  the  torturing 
1'angs  of  the  British  lion,  now  rises  majestic  in  the 
pride  of  her  sovereignty,  and  bids  her  eagle  elevate 
his  wings ! 

"  The  solemn  Declaration  of  Independence  is  now 
pronounced,  amidst  crowds  of  admiring  citizens,  by 
the  supreme  council  of  our  nation,  and  received  with 
the  unbounded  plaudits  of  a  grateful  people. 


SO      WEBSTER    ADDRESSES    THE    OLD    SOLDIERS. 

"  This  was  the  hour  when  heroism  was  proved  — 
when  the  souls  of  men  were  tried." 

At  this  point  Mr.  Webster  gracefully  turned  to 
the  revolutionary  soldiers  who  were  present,  and 
addressing  them,  said,  — 

"  It  was  then,  ye  venerable  patriots  —  it  was  then 
you  lifted  the  indignant  arm,  and  unitedly  swore  to 
be  free  !  Despising  such  toys  as  subjugated  empires, 
you  then  knew  no  middle  fortune  between  liberty 
and  death  ! 

"  Firmly  relying  on  the  protection  of  Heaven, 
unwarped  in  the  resolution  you  had  taken,  you  then 
undaunted  met  —  engaged  —  defeated  the  gigantic 
power  of  Britain,  and  rose  triumphant  over  the  ag- 
gressions of  your  enemies. 

"  Trenton,  Princeton,  Bennington,  and  Saratoga 
were  the  successive  theatres  of  your  victories,  and 
the  utmost  bounds  of  creation  are  the  limits  of  your 
fame !  The  sacred  fire  of  freedom,  then  enkindled 
in  your  breasts,  shall  be  perpetuated  through  the 
long  descent  of  future  ages,  and  burn  with  undi- 
minished  fervor  in  the  bosoms  of  millions  yet  un- 
born. 

'•'  Finally,  to  close  the  sanguinary  conflict,  to 
grant  America  the  blessings  of  an  honorable  peace, 
and  clothe  her  heroes  with  laurels,  Cornwallis,  at 
whose  feet  the  kings  and  princes  of  Asia  have  since 


HIS    ALLUSIONS    TO    WASHING1ON.  8J 

thrown  their  diadems,  was  compelled  to  submit  to 
the  sword  of  Washington. 

"  The  great  drama  is  now  completed  ;  our  inde- 
pendence is  now  acknowledged  ;  and  the  hopes  of 
our  enemies  are  blasted  forever.  Columbia  is  now 
seated  in  the  forum  of  nations,  and  the  empires  of 
the  world  are  amazed  at  the  bright  effulgence  of  her 
glory." 

After  contrasting  the  peaceful  and  prosperous 
condition  of  this  country  with  the  unsettled  state 
of  Europe,  he  refers  to  those  revolutionary  heroes 
who  had  died,  and  says,  — 

"  With  hearts  penetrated  by  unutterable  grief,  we 
are  at  length  constrained  to  ask,  Where  is  our  Wash- 
ington 1  Where  the  hero  who  led  us  to  victory  ? 
Where  the  man  who  gave  us  freedom  ?  Where  is 
he  who  headed  our  feeble  army,  when  destruction 
threatened  us,  who  came  upon  our  enemies  like  the 
storms  of  winter,  and  scattered  them  like  leaves  be- 
fore the  Borean  blast  1  Where,  O  my  country, 
is  thy  political  savior  1  —  where,  O  humanity,  thy 
favorite  son  1 

"  The  solemnity  of  this  assembly,  the  lamenta- 
tions of  the  American  people,  will  answer,  'Alas! 
he  is  no  more  —  the  mighty  is  fallen  !  ' 

"  Yes,  Americans,  Washington  is  gone  !  —  he  is 
now  consigned  to  dust,  and  sleeps  in  '  dull,  cold 
marble '  ! 


82  PUBLIC    GRIEF    AT    HIS    LOSS. 

"  The  man  who  never  felt  a  wound  but  when  it 
pierced  his  country  —  who  never  groaned  but  when 
fair  Freedom  bled  —  is  now  forever  silent. 

"  Wrapped  in  the  shroud  of  death,  the  dark  do- 
minions of  the  grave  long  since  received  him,  and 
he  rests  in  undisturbed,  repose.  Vain  were  the  at- 
tempt to  express  our  loss  ;  vain  the  attempt  to  de- 
scribe the  feelings  of  our  souls.  Though  months 
have  rolled  away  since  his  spirit  left  this  terrestrial 
orb,  and  sought  the  shining  worlds  on  high,  yet  the 
sad  event  is  still  remembered  with  increased  sorrow. 
The  hoary-headed  patriot  of  '76  still  tells  the  .mourn- 
ful story  to  the  listening  infant,  till  the  loss  of  his 
country  touches  his  heart,  and-  patriotism  fires  his 
breast.  The  aged  matron  still  laments  the  loss  of 
the  man  beneath  whose  banners  her  husband  has 
fought,  or  her  son  fallen.  At  the  name  of  Wash- 
ington the  sympathetic  tear  still  glistens  in  the  eye 
of  every  youthful  hero  ;  nor  does  the  tender  sigh 
yet  cease  to  heave  in  the  fair  bosom  of  Columbia's 
daughters." 

These  extracts  are  sufficient  as  specimens  of  his 
production  on  that  occasion.  Without  indulging  in 
any  elaborate  criticism,  we  cannot  refrain  from  say- 
ing, that  the  Saxon  simplicity,  and  the  terseness,  for 
which  Mr.  Webster  in  laterjears  was  so  remarkable, 
must  have  required  on  his  part  a  great  amount  of 
persevering  labor. 


REMARKS    UPON    THE    ORATION.  83 

In  reading  the  above  passages  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  we  are  not  perusing  the  language  of  Hon. 
Mr.  Webster,  member  of  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States,  but  of  Daniel  Webster,  an  undergraduate 
of  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  member  of  the  junior 
class  at  Dartmouth.  As  such,  it  is  a  credit  to  its 
author.  To  be  enabled  to  appreciate  it  fully,  we 
need  the  impassioned  tones,  the  eloquent  eye,  the 
manly  gesture  of  the  orator ;  we  need  to  be  sur- 
rounded with  the  audience  to  whom  it  was  delivered, 
—  students,  professors,  revolutionary  heroes,  young 
men  and  maidens,  old  men  and  children,  —  who 
listened,  smiled,  and  vociferously  applauded  the  ju- 
venile speaker.  We  need  the  soul-inspiring  music, 
and  all  the  excitement  of  the  national  anniversary. 
But  without  these,  it  is  not  difficult  to  discover 
gleams  of  that  genius  which  broke  forth  with  such 
dazzling  splendor  in  the  maturity  of  his  years.  It 
showed  that  the  rich  veins  of  the  marble  were  there, 
and  required  only  the  labor  of  the  sculptor  to  de- 
velop the  forms  of  beauty,  and  give  it  the  smooth- 
ness of  surface  of  which  it  was  capable.  It  was 
like  a  few  grains  from  a  mine  which  had  not  been 
worked,  but  which  furnished  conclusive  evidence 
that  an  abundance  of  pure  gold  was  there.  One 
who  remembers  the  occasion  says,  that  the  oration 
produced  a  great  sensation. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  1801,  Ephraim  Simonds,  a 


84  A  CLASSMATE'S  FUNERAL  EULOGY. 

member  of  the  senior  class  in  college,  was  prema- 
turely cut  down  by  death.  It  was  deemed  desirable 
to  make  a  religious  improvement  of  the  event,  by 
having  a  eulogy  delivered  by  one  of  his  classmates. 
No  one  being  so  popular  amongst  the  students  as 
Mr.  Webster,  he  was  chosen  for  that  purpose.  The 
painful  nature  of  the  event,  combined  with  the  tal- 
ents of  the  orator,  drew  out  a  large  audience.  The 
house  was  completely  crowded.  After  the  prelimi- 
nary services  were  over,  Mr.  Webster  addressed  the 
assembled  multitude  in  a  dignified  and  solemn  man- 
ner. In  his  exordium  he  referred  to  his  deceased 
fellow-student  thus :  — 

"  All  of  him  that  was  mortal  now  lies  in  the  char-  • 
nels  of  yonder  cemetery.  By  the  grass  that  nods 
over  the  mounds  of  Sumner,  Merrill,  and  Cook, 
now  rests  a  fourth  son  of  Dartmouth,  constituting 
another  monument  of  man's  mortality.  The  sun, 
as  it  sinks  to  the  ocean,  plays  its  departing  beams 
on  his  tomb,  but  they  reanimate  him  not.  The  cold 
sod  presses  on  his  bosom  ;  his  hands  hang  down  in 
weakness.  The  bird  of  the  evening  shouts  a  mel- 
ancholy air  on  the  poplar,  but  her  voice  is  stillness 
to  his  ears.  While  his  pencil  was  drawing  scenes- 
of  future  felicity,  while  his  soul  fluttered  on  the  gay 
breezes  of  hope,  an  unseen  hand  drew  the  curtain, 
and  shut  him  from  our  view." 

The  eulogy  was  listened  to  with   deep   emotion. 


REFLECTIONS    AND    PRINCIPLES    INVOLVED.       85 

as  was  evinced  by  the   tearful  eyes   of  the  assem- 
bly. 

There  is  something  peculiarly  affecting  in  the 
death  of  a  young  man,  while  pursuing  his  course  of 
education.  The  world,  with  all  its  posts  of  honor 
and  usefulness,  presents  itself  before  him.  He  is 
stimulated  by  patriotism,  philanthropy,  and  ambition, 
to  qualify  himself  for  some  of  its  many  attractive 
spheres  of  action.  Surrounded  by  others  in  a  simi- 
lar condition,  he  is  influenced,  also,  by  a  spirit  of 
emulation.  He  is  at  the  same  time  the  object  of 
deep  parental  solicitude,  and,  it  may  be,  of  the  hopes 
of  a  large  circle  of  interested  relatives  and  friends. 
Whilst  pressing  on  diligently  to  the  goal  which  he 
has  set  before  him,  he  is  arrested  by  disease,  and 
laid  low  in  the  grave  !  His  sun  goes  down  whilst 
it  is  yet  day.  He  is  like  a  vessel  richly  freighted, 
which,  whilst  she  is  getting  ready  to  leave  the  har- 
bor for  the  broad  ocean  before  her,  strikes  upon 
concealed  rocks,  and  becomes  a  wreck  ;  or  like  a 
young  cadet,  who,  whilst  studying,  in  a  military 
school,  the  science  of  war,  and  acquiring  skill  in 
military  tactics,  is  suddenly  cut  down  without  ever 
seeing  an  actual  engagement.  Bright  visions  of  fu 
ture  distinction,  which  had  lured  him  on,  have  faded 
uway,  and  the  hopes  of  parents  and  friends  are 
blasted  forever.  As  no  young  man  has  any  guar- 
anty of  immunity  from  a  similar  catastrophe,  it 


86    DUTIES    WITH    REFERENCE    TO    THE    FUTURE. 

becomes  important  that  all  such  make  their  mortal- 
ity a  prominent  principle  of  action.  Whilst  pre- 
paring themselves  to  occupy  honorable  positions  in 
this  life,  they  should  remember  the  fleeting  charac- 
ter of  thsse  distinctions,  and  not  pursue  them  with 
an  ardor  disproportionate  to  their  real  value.  Much 
less  should  they  allow  the  present  to  shut  out  from 
their  view  the  distant  future.  As  this  life  is  prepar- 
atory to  another,  farther  on,  the  highest  wisdom  con- 
sists iir  availing  ourselves  of  the  transient  present, 
in  such  a  manner  that  we  shall  be  well  fitted  for  the 
unchangeable  future  which  awaits  us.  In  doing 
this,  we  shall  be  acting  upon  a  principle  similar  to 
that  which  governs  us  in  our  temporal  affairs.  The 
student  at  college,  the  apprentice  at  a  trade,  the 
merchant,  the  mariner,  the  professional  man,  —  are 
all  acting  with  reference  to  the  future.  By  indus- 
try, prudence,  and  economy,  they  are  endeavoring 
to  acquire  a  competency,  so  that  at  no  future  period 
shall  they  be  reduced  to  want.  They  are  providing 
for  the  time  to  come.  If  this  be  a  wise  principle  of 
action  with  reference  to'our  present  existence,  can 
it  be  unwise  in  its  application  to  that  period  of  our 
being  which  lies  beyond  the  grave  1  Why  provide 
for  all  the  future  which  intervenes  betweenr  the  pres- 
ent moment  and  the  period  of  our  death,  and  en- 
tirely neglect  preparation  for  that  which  is  beyond 
death  1  Does  not  consistency  require  that,  if  we  do 


RELIGIOUS    ADVICE.  87 

the  one,  we  do  the  other  also  1  In  this  respect  doe? 
consistency  mark  your  course,  reader  1  With  all 
your  learning,  see  to  it  that  you  get  that  knowledge, 
the  beginning  of  which  is  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and 
with  all  your  accumulation  fail  not  to  lay  up  treas- 
ures in  heaven,  on  which  you  may  draw  when  all  the 
riches  of  the  earth  shall  have  passed  away. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

A  great  Gathering.  —  Webster's  Theme  at  Commencement.  —  How 
collegiate  Honors  are  distributed.  —  United  Fraternity.  —  Web- 
ster chosen  Orator.  —  His  Oration.  —  Tears  up  his  Diploma.— 
Studies  with  Squire  Thompson.  —  Becomes  a  School  Teacher.  — 
Advantages  of  keeping  School.  —  Registry  of  Deeds.  —  Where 
there  is  a  Will  there  is  a  Way.  —  Fingers  ache.  —  Volumes  of 
Deeds.' — Vote  of  Thanks. — Academy  burned.  —  Affection. — 
Reverence  for  Mr.  Webster.  —  How  manifested. —  Continues  to 
study  Law.  —  Commits  to  Memory  Orations. 

DURING  the  last  week  in  August,  1801,  Mr.  Web- 
ster-was graduated.  An  unusual  number  of  stran- 
gers visited  Hanover  at  the  time.  They  commenced 
coming  early  in  the  week,  and  continued  to  increase 
until  the  important  day  arrived  when  the  senior  stu- 
dents were  to  bid  farewell  to  the  classic  shades  of 
Dartmouth  College,  and  scatter  for  the  purpose  of 
seeking  their  fortunes.  At  that  time  college  com- 
mencement  was  regarded  as  an  occasion  of  far 
greater  importance,  and  it  awakened  an  interest 
throughout  a  much  wider  extent  of  country  than 
now.  Gentlemen  and  ladies,  arrayed  in  their  gay- 
est attire,  poured  into  the  town,  some  on  horseback, 
single,  and  others  on  horseback  in  couples,  the  lady 
riding  behind  the  gentleman  on  a  pillion.  Some 
carne  in  a  more  imposing  manner,  with  horse  and 


A    GREAT    GATHERING.  89 

carriage,  the  harness  newly  cleansed,  and  the  vehi- 
cle newly  varnished  ;  others  felt  it  a  privilege  to 
ride  in  an  open  wagon  on  a  temporary  rough  board 
seat ;  whilst,  in  some  instances,  groups  of  the  young 
men  and  blooming  damsels  preferred  to  ride  stand- 
ing uj>  in  a  large  hay  cart,  which  they  decorated  with 
evergreens  and  flowers  for  the  purpose.  It  was  a 
great  gala  day,  and  brought  out  people  in  vast 
numbers. 

It  was  expected  by  the  students  that  Webster 
on  that  occasion,  would  have  had  one  of  the  most 
honorable  parts.  It  is  said  that  in  their  judgment 
he  deserved  the  highest.  But  the  faculty  decided 
otherwise,  and  assigned  him  a  subordinate  position. 
His  theme  was  "  The  recent  Discoveries  in  Chemis- 
try, especially  those  of  Lavoisier,"  which  were  then 
recently  made  public. 

The  assignment  of  parts  at  commencement  does 
not  depend  entirely  on  scholarship,  or  studious  ap- 
plication. The  professors  take  into  consideration 
the  whole  deportment  of  the  students,  their  attain- 
ments, their  punctuality  at  prayers,  at  the  recitations 
and  the  lectures,  and  their  degree  of  observance  of 
all  the  comparatively  trivial  rules  which  are  laid 
down  for  the  government  of  the  college,  and  then 
graduate  their  honors  according  to  the  degree  in 
which  all  the  requirements  of  the  faculty  have  been 
observed. 


90        THE    INDUSTRIOUS   STUDENT    SUCCESSFUL. 

Mr.  Lanman  states  that  the  valedictory  on  this 
occasion  was  conferred  upon  one  "  whose  name 
has  since  passed  into  forgetfulness."  If  this  be  true, 
it  shows  that  the  college  does  not  make  the  man.  It 
is  one  thing  to  excel  in  the  quiet  retirement  of  clas- 
sic cloisters,  but  quite  a  different  thing  to  be  a  victo- 
rious champion  in  the  great  battle  of  life.  It  can 
seldom  be  predicted  with  accuracy  from  a  young 
man's  position  in  college  what  he  will  be  when  he 
enters  upon  the  arena  of  the  world.  It  is  not  un- 
usual for  some  to  startle  their  fellow-students  with 
what  appears  to  be  the  bright  scintillations  of  prom- 
ising genius,  and  to  take  the  lead  in  the  recitations 
of  the  class.  As  they  pass  on  their  luminous  course, 
predictions  of  future  eminence  follow  them  —  pre- 
dictions which  a  few  years  are  sufficient  to  show  were 
uttered  by  those  who  had  never  received  the  gift 
of  prophecy.  After  bidding  farewell  to  their  alma 
mater,  their  flame  of  precocious  genius  is  sooo 
quenched,  and  they  are  heard  from  no  more. 
Whilst  others,  who  exhibited  no  particular  brilliancy 
during  their  collegiate  course,  but  were  simple, 
every-day,  plodding  students,  by  keeping  up  their 
'industrious,  studious  habits  in  subsequent  life,  attain 
to  great  eminence.  They  make  themselves  both 
heard  and  widely  felt. 

There  are,  however,  occasional  instances  where  the 
boy  shadows  forth  the  man,  when  discreet  and  expe- 


ANOTHER    HONORABLE    APPOINTMENT.  91 

fienced  observers  can  foretell,  from  early  indications, 
approaching  greatness,  as  from  the  stock  and  branch- 
ing of  the  young  tree  can  be  predicted  its  character 
at  maturity.  Such  was  the  case  with  Mr.  Webster. 
Those  who  had  been  observant  of  his  course  whilst 
at  Dartmouth  looked  forward  with  confidence  to  his 
success  in  future  years. 

Though  he  failed  of  obtaining  the  principal  part 
at  commencement,  he  secured  in  another  respect  the 
highest  honors  of  the  day. 

There  were  at  Dartmouth  several  literary  and  re- 
ligious societies,  composed  of  the  members  of  the 
college,  whose  anniversaries  were  held  during  com- 
mencement week.  Before  each  of  these  societies 
some  member  was  chosen  to  deliver  the  annual  ad- 
dress. The  largest  and  most  important  of  these  so- 
cieties was  that  of  "  The  United  Fraternity."  To 
be  chosen  the  orator  for  this  association  was,  there- 
fore, a  higher  distinction  than  to  be  selected  as  the 
speaker  for  either  of  the  others.  At  the  time  he 
.graduated,  Mr.  Webster  was  unanimously  chosen  to 
perform  this  honorable  service.  The  public  ad- 
dresses which  he  had  on  previous  occasions  delivered 
had  given  him  a  high  reputation.  No  other  student 
could  attract  so  large  an  audience.  No  other  could 
have  met  the  expectations  which  were  awakened  by 
the  announcement  that  he  was  to  be  the  orator  of 
the  day. 


92  TEARS    UP    HIS    DIPLOMA. 

When  the  hour  arrived  for  the  commencement  of 
the  service,  the  house  was  filled.  Mr.  Webster  sus 
tained  his  previous  reputation  ;  he  acquitted  himself 
nobly.  His  subject  was  "  The  Influence  of  Opin- 
ion," and  was  we  1  adapted  to  develop  the  strength  and 
peculiar  qualities  of  his  mind.  One  of  the  newspa- 
pers of  the  day  said  that  "  elegance  of  composition 
and  propriety  of  delivery  distinguished  the  perform- 
ance," and  that  "  a  numerous  audience  manifested  a 
high  degree  of  satisfaction  at  the  genius  displayed." 

After  the  honors  of  the  college  had  been  con- 
ferred, and  Mr.  Webster  had  received  his  diploma, 
properly  signed  and  sealed,  certifying  that  he  had 
pursued  the  usual  course  of  study,  he  invited  .a  num- 
ber of  his  classmates  to  go  with  him  to  a  place  of 
some  retirement  in  the  rear  of  the  church.  When 
they  reached  the  place,  Mr.  Webster  held  up  the  di- 
ploma before  them,  and  said,  "  My  industry  may 
make  me  a  great  man,  but  this  miserable  parchment 
cannot."  He  then  deliberately  tore  it  into  pieces,  and 
threw  it  away  ;  then,  bidding  his  fellow-students  fare- 
well, he  mounted  his  horse,  and  set  out  for  Elms 
Farm. 

Although  this  act  was  not  particularly  amiable, 
it  developed  certain  traits  of  character  which  were 
conspicuous  in  Mr.  Webster's  subsequent  career.  It 
exhibits  the  same  moral  courage,  independence,  and 
self-reliance  which  mark  his  whole  course.  It  also 


WEBSTER'S  REPLY  TO  HATNE,   IN  THE  U.  S.  SENATE. 


MISTAKES    OF    YOUNG    MEN.  93 

•# 

evinces  his  conviction  that  a  public  education  is  no 
substitute  for  future  industry ;  that  to  be  a  successful 
competitor  in  the  great  struggle  for  positions  of  in- 
fluence and  usefulness,  there  must  be  intense  appli- 
cation. 

When  a  young  man  imagines  that  the  mere  pos- 
session of  a  diploma  will  be  a  passport  to  posts  of 
eminence ;  that  all  before  him  is  a  smooth  sea,  over 
which,  with  his  skiff  of  papyrus,  he  may  safely  float ; 
that  from  arduous  toil  and  harassing  anxiety  he  is 
now  forever  exempt,  —  he  furnishes  conclusive  evi- 
dence that  there  are  some  lessons  left  for  him  to 
learn.  Should  he  attempt  to  act  upon  his  errone- 
ous convictions,  it  will  not  be  long  before  his  own 
experience  will  convince  him  of  his  folly.  Before 
such  would  we  hold  up  the  example  of  Mr.  Webster. 
Rely  not  upon  past  efforts,  nor  upon  present  attain- 
ments. However  great  may  have  been  former  priv- 
ileges, regard  them  only  as  so  many  facilities  for  fu- 
ture efforts,  but  by  no  means  as  a  substitute  for  them. 
That  you  have  been  favored  with  an  education  be- 
yond that  of  many  of  the  community  has  increased 
your  responsibilities  above  theirs.  Having  abilities 
to  render  yourself  more  useful  than  others,  you  are 
under  obligation  to  exercise  them.  No  man  has  a 
right  to  hide  his  light  under  a  bushel.  Unto  whom 
soever  much  is  given,  of  him  is  much  required. 
You  are  stewards  in  respect  of  all  the  knowledge 


94  WEBSTER   BECOMES    A    TEACHER. 

» 

and  the  talents  which  you  possess,  and  it  is  required 
of  stewards  that  a  man  be  found  faithful.  Industry 
in  the  right  direction  may  make  you  great  and  use- 
ful ;  without  that  your  collegiate  privileges  will  not. 

After  completing  his  college  course,  Mr.  Webster 
commenced  the  study  of  law  with  his  father's  old 
neighbor,  Mr.  Thompson,  who  so  significantly 
laughed  when  Daniel  was  sent  back  to  school  dur- 
ing haying  time,  because  he  had  blistered  his  hands. 

Having  been  so  great  an  expense  to  his  father, 
Webster  now  felt  the  importance  of  doing  something 
for  his  own  support. 

It  was  not  long  before  he  had  the  opportunity. 
An  academy  had  been  recently  founded  at  Frye- 
burg,  in  the  State  of  Maine,  and  was  in  want  of  a 
teacher.  The  trustees,  who  had  received  a  favora 
ble  report  of  Mr.  Webster,  through  Professor  John 
Smith,  extended  to  him  an  invitation  to  become  its 
principal,  with  a  salary 'of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars.  This  was  cheerfully  accepted,  and  the 
young  student  was  soon  engaged  in  the  perplexing 
vocation  of  a  schoolmaster.  This  new  occupation 
was  advantageous  to  Mr.  Webster  in  several  respects. 
Although  its  pecuniary  benefit  was  not  great,  being 
less  than  a  common,  unskilled  day  laborer  now  re- 
ceives for  the  lowest  kind  of  employment,  it  fur- 
nished him  an  opportunity  of  observing  the  various 
phases  of  human  nature,  and  studying  the  principles 


ADVANTAGES  OF  TEACHING.          95 

of  human  action.  His  school  was  a  little' world  in 
itself,  filled  with  miniature  men,  possessing  as  great 
a  diversity  of  dispositions  as  the  same  number  of 
adults,  susceptible  of  the  sf«ne  passions,  and  influ- 
enced by  similar  motive's.  He  had,  therefore,  au 
opportunity  of  learning  how  to  move  minds,  and  thus 
of  acquiring  knowledge  which  would  be  of  valuable 
service  to  him  in  future  life.  He  taught  the  chil- 
dren, and  the  children  taught  him.  It  may  not  be 
easy  to  say  who  were  the  most  benefited.  He 
learned  what  he  never  could  have  acquired  in  the 
lecture  room  or  college,  nor  from  books.  That 
school  was  to  him  an  eminently  instructive  volume, 
of  which  each  child  was  a  page,  from  which  might 
be  received  some  important  lesson.  It  was  an  in- 
tellectual and  moral  apparatus,  by  the  skilful  use  of 
which  he  might  try  experiments  and  arrive  at  re- 
sults, respecting  the  mind  and  heart,  far  more  im- 
portant than  any  conclusions  which  could  be  reached 
in  either  of  the  physical  sciences. 

It  also  served  to  develop  himself.  If  there  is  any 
one  employment  that,  more  than  another,  will  aid  a 
man  in  learning  what  manner  of  spirit  he  is  of,  it  is 
school  teaching.  This  brings  out  the  strong  and  the 
weak  points  of  character.  It  calls  into  exercise  in- 
nate elements,  which,  under  other  circumstances, 
might  have  remained  dormant  for  years.  Self- 
knowledge  is  in  some  respects  the  niost  difficult 


96          WEBSTER'S  PERSONAL  APPEARANCE. 

and  the  most  important  of  all  knowledge.  Some 
advance  may  be  made  in  it  by  self-examination. 
But  who  indulges  in  this  exercise  ?  —  who  deals 
faithfully  with  himself  1  —  who  is  willing  to  drag  his 
"  secret  sins  "  before  the  clear  and  steady  gaze  of 
his  own  contemplation  7  —  who  measures  correctly 
the  dimensions  of  his  admitted  defects  7  —  who  probes 
deeply  the  diseased  spots  7  It  is  too  painful  —  we 
shrink  from  it.  Yet  it  is  desirable  that  a  person 
should  know  the  evil  tendencies  of  his  character  as 
well  as  the  good  —  yea,  far  more  so,  for  these  evil 
tendencies  he  must  specially  guard  and  perseveringly 
resist,  but  the  others  he  may  let  take  care  of  them- 
selves. 

The  employment  of  Mr.  Webster  as  a  teacher 
rendered  him  essential  aid  in  detecting  those  el- 
ements of  character  in  himself  which  needed  re- 
straint, and  those  which  required  cultivation.  It 
also  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  reviewing  the  stud- 
ies which  he  pursued  in  college,  and  discovering  in 
what  branches  he  was  defective,  the  possession  of 
which  was  essential  to  a  good  teacher. 

Those  who  have  ever  had  a  near  view  of  Mr. 
Webster  will  not  forget  his  large,  lustrous,  dark 
eyes.  These  constituted  a  prominent  feature  in  the 
early  part  of  his  life.  Persons  who  were  acquainted 
with  him  in  college  refer  particularly  to  them.  He 
was  once  questioned  by  Mr.^Lanman  as  to  his  per 


HE    REGISTERS    DEEDS.  9? 

sonal  appearance,  when  officiating  as  principal  of 
Fryeburg  Academy.  His  reply  was,  "  Long,  slender , 
pale,  and  all  eyes ;  indeed,  I  went  by  the  name  of 
'  All  eyes  '  the  country  round."  The  significant  ap- 
propriateness of  this  appellation  cannot  be  denied. 

When  Mr.  Webster  found  that  his  duties  as 
teacher  did  not  require  the  whole  of  his  time,  he 
sought  additional  employment.  He  had  gone  to 
Fryeburg  from  pecuniary  considerations,  and  was 
willing  to  engage  in  any  honorable  occupation  which 
promised  an  addition  to  his  limited  resources.  For- 
tunately the  office  of  Assistant  Register  of  Deeds 
was  vacant,  and  he  was  invited  to  perform  its  du- 
ties. This  he  accepted,  which  gave  him  employ- 
ment for  all  his  leisure  hours.  His  duty  was  to 
copy  deeds  into  a  large  folio  volume,  for  which  he 
received^  twenty-five  cents  each.  There  are  at  the 
present  time,  in  the  office  at  Fryeburg,  two  large, 
bound  volumes  of  manuscript  deeds,  in  his  neat  and 
elegant  handwriting.  He  has  been  heard  to  say, 
that  "  The  ache  is  not  yet  out  of  those  fingers  which 
so  much  writing  caused  them."  It,  however,  brought 
him  in  a  little  income,  which  he  devoted  to  the  edu- 
cation of  his  brother. 

The  old  adage  that  "  Where  there's  a  will  there's 
a  way,"  was  illustrated  in  this  part  of  Mr.  Webster's 
history.  He  was  willing  to  work.  He  was  not  par- 
ticular about  the  kind  of  labor  in  which  he  engaged. 


98  RELICS    OF    HIS    LABOR. 

provided  it  was  reputable.  When  the  offer  of  be- 
ing a  copyist  of  deeds  was  tendered,  he  did  not  de- 
cline because  of  its  sedentary  character  or  limited 
compensation.  If  he  could  not  earn  much,  he  was 
content  with  little.  He  was  determined  to  do  some- 
thing, and  something  was  presented.  This  was  a 
much  wiser  course  than  though  he  had  lost  much 
time  in  waiting  for  something  easier  or  more  profit- 
able to  offer.  There  are  some  individuals  desiring 
employment,  who,  unless  they  can  obtain  a  berth 
which  is  satisfactory  in  all  respects,  prefer  to  remain 
unoccupied.  Tf  the  time  which  they  lose  in  looking 
for  a  desirable  situation  was  devoted  to  such  engage- 
ments as  offer,  they  might  find  enough  to  do  —  and 
of  that  which  would  afford  them  a  reasonable  com- 
pensation This  was  Mr.  Webster's  course,  and  it 
is  worthy  of  imitation. 

A  short  time  since,  Mr.  Webster's  son,  accompa- 
nied by  a  friend,  visited  Fryeburg.  As  might  be 
expected,  they  were  attracted  to  the  office  of  the 
registry  of  deeds,  that  they  might  see  the  evidences 
of  his  industry  in  early  life.  These  evidences  were 
furnished  in  the  two  huge  folio  volumes  to  which 
we  have  referred.  After  examining  these  with  in- 
terest, and  being  astonished  that  so  great  an  amount 
of  labor  could  be  performed,  in  addition  to  the  ar- 
duous service  of  superintending  a  school,  they  turned 
their  attention  to  the  record  of  the  trustees  of  the 


THE    ELOQUENT    LOT.  99 

academy,  and  there  discovered  satisfactory  proof 
that  this  extra  employment  did  not  interfere  with 
the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties  as  teacher. 
This  proof  consisted  in  "  a  most  respectful  and 
affectionate  vote  of  thanks  and  good  will  to  Mr. 
Webster,  when  he  took  leave  of  the  employment," 
which  they  found  upon  the  record.  This  evinced 
the  high  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  the 
trustees  of  the  academy. 

There  was  one  thing  which  they  did  not  see, 
which,  if  it  had  been  in  their  power,  they  would 
have  examined  with  great  gratification  —  and  that 
was,  the  old  school  house  in  which  Mr.  Webster  taught. 
This  had  been  consumed  to  ashes  many  years  be- 
fore. Such  is  the  affectionate  reverence  in  which 
Mr.  Webster  is  held,  that  the  owner  of  the  land  on 
which  the  academy  stood,  Mr.  Robert  J.  Bradley, 
would  never  permit  any  other  edifice  to  be  erected 
upon  the  spot,  and  he  is  determined  that  none  shall 
be  so  long  as  he  has  control  of  the  lot.  This  de- 
voted friendship  was  cherished  also  by  his  father, 
who  had  probably  previously  owned  the  estate.  The 
non-occupation  of  that  site,  therefore,  is  evidence 
of  refined  sentiment.  The  silence  of  its  desolation  is 
eloquently  expressive  of  the  ardent  attachment  of  its 
owner  to  him  who,  many  years  before,  commenced 
his  self-support  by  there  keeping  school. 

Whilst  at  Fryeburg,  Mr.  Webster  managed,  also, 


100 


WEBSTER'S  APPLICATION. 


to  secure  time  for  the  reading  of  law,  and  commit 
ting  to  memory  important  passages  from  the 
speeches  of  distinguished  orators.  Being  unable 
to  buy,  he  was  obliged  to  borrow  BlackstoneV  Com- 
mentaries, which  he  then  read  for  the  first  time. 
He  also  committed  to  memory  the  celebrated  speech 
of  Mr.  Ames,  on  the  British  treaty,  which  he  greatly 
admired. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Webster  fond  of  fishing.  —  Lovewell's  Pond.  —  The  great  Fight.  — 
Importance  of  Relaxation.  —  Mr.  Webster's  Course.  —  Relin- 
quishes his  School.  —  Providential  Circumstance.  —  Mr.  Web- 
ster's Progress  in  Law.  —  His  Attention  to  Business.  —  The 
wrong  Course.  —  Kimball's  Turnpike Webster's  Determina- 
tion. —  His  Success.  —  Rule  to  regulate  Subscriptions.  —  Mr. 
Webster  studies  with  Hon.  Mr.  Gore.  —  Is  admitted  to  the 
Bar.  —  Mr.  Gore's  Commendation  and  Prophecy. 

IT  is  evident  from  the  facts  which  we  have  nar- 
rated in  the  preceding  pages,  that  whilst  Mr.  Web- 
ster was  at  Fryeburg,  he  must  have  been  "  diligent 
in  business  ;  "  yet  he  did  not  deny  himself  relaxation. 
Rural  sports  were  as  attractive  to  him  then  as  at 
any  future  period.  He  was  particularly  fond  of 
angling,  and  as  there  was  a  delightful  sheet  of  water 
not  far  from  the  village,  he  availed  himself  of  the 
opportunity  of  Waltonizing  whenever  the  mood  was 
upon  him.  This  beautiful  gem  of  a  lake  was  once 
the  scene  of  a  dreadful  tragedy,  from  which  it  de- 
rives its  name  of  Lovewell's  Pond,  and  by  which, 
also,  its  shores  have  been  consecrated  as  classic 
ground. 

This  tragedy  was  as  follows :  In  1725,  such  fre- 
quent barbarous  murders  were  committed  by  the  In- 
dians upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  exposed  frontier, 

101 


102  BATTLE    WITH    THE    INDIANS. 

that  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  offered  a 
reward  of  one  hundred  pounds  for  every  Indian's 
scalp.  This  furnished  a  strong  temptation  for  the 
brave  and  the  covetous  among  the  whites  to  engage 
in  a  murderous  crusade  against  the  lawless  aborigi- 
nes. An  Indian  chief  by  the  name  of  Paugus, 
whose  tribe  were  called  the  Peqwakets,  resided  on 
territory  which  is  now  embraced  within  the  limits  of 
Fryeburg.  This  chief  was  terrible  to  the  English, 
and  they  were  determined,  if  possible,  to  extirpate 
him  and  his  tribe.  Captain  Lovewell  of  Dunstable 
undertook  this  hazardous  service,  with  thirty  four 
men.  He  came  upon  Paugus  with  eighty  warriors, 
and  the  battle  commenced  by  the  whites'  killing  one 
of  the  Indians,  who  was  returning  from  hunting. 
Both  parties  fought  with  great  fury.  "  The  In- 
dians roaring,  and  yelling,  and  howling  like  wolves, 
barking  like  dogs,  and  making  all  sorts  of  hideous 
noises ;  the  English  frequently  shouting  and  huz- 
zaing, as  they  did  after  the  first  round.  At  one 
time  Captain  Wyman  is  confident  they  were  got 
to  powwowing  by  their  striking  on  the  ground,  and 
other  odd  motions ;  but  at  length  Wyman  crept 
up  towards  them,  and  firing  amongst  them,  shot 
the  chief  powwow,  and  broke  up  their  meeting.*" 

•  It  was  a  most   desperate    engagement.      Sixty  of 
the  Indians  and  twenty  English  were  slain,t  amongst 

*  Rev.  Mr.  Symmes.  f  Drake's  Indians.' 


THE    BELOVED    SONG.  103 

whom  were  both  Lovewell  and  Paugus.     The  Eng- 
lish, however,  were  conquerors. 

Two  poems  were  written,  commemorative  of  the 
fight,  in  which  all  the  prominent  circumstances  were 
narrated.  As  many  of  our  readers  will  be  more  in- 
terested in  these  poetic  descriptions  than  a  mere 
statement  in  prose,  we  insert  one  below,*  of  which 

*  LOVEWELL'S   FIGHT. 

Of  worthy  Captain  Lovewell  I  purpose  now  to  sing, 
How  valiantly  he  served  his  country  and  his  king1 ; 
He  and  his  valiant  soldiers  did  range  the  woods  full  wide, 
And  hardships  they  endured  to  quell  the  Indian's  pride. 

'Twas  nigh  unto  Pigwacket,  on  the  eighth  day  of  May, 
They  spied  a  rebel  Indian,  soon  after  break  of  day  ; 
He  on  a  bank  was  walking,  upon  a  neck  of  land, 
Which  leads  into  a  pond,  as  we're  made  to  understand. 

Our  men  resolved  to  have  him,  and  travelled  two  miles  round, 

Until  they  met  the  Indian,  who  boldly  stood  his  ground. 

Then  speaks  up  Captain   Lovewell,  ''Take  you   good  heed,' 

says  he  ; 
'  This  rogue  is  to  decoy  us,  I  very  plainly  see. 

"  The  Indians  lie  in  ambush,  in  some  place  nigh  at  hand, 
In  order  to  surround  us.  upon  this  neck  of  land; 
Therefore  we'll  inarch  in  order,  and  each  man  leave  his  par*, 
That  we  may  briskly  fight  them  when  they  shall  us  attack/' 

They  came  unto  this  Indian,  who  did  them  thus  defy; 
As  soon  as  they  came  nigh  him,  two  guns  he  did  let  fly, 
Which  wounded  Captain  Lovewell,  and  likewise  one  man  more 
But  when  this  rogue  was  running,  they  laid  him  in  his  gore. 


104  THE    BELOVED    SONG. 

Mr.  S.  G.  Drake,  of  Indian  notoriety,  says,  accord- 
ing to  tradition,  it  was  composed  the  same  year  of 

Then  having  scalped  the  Indian,  they  went  back  to  the  spot, 
Where  they   had  laid  their  packs  down,    but  there  they    found 

them  not ; 

For  the  Indians  having  spied  them,  wnen  they  them  down  did  lay, 
Did  seize  them  for  their  plunder,  and  carry  them  away. 

These  rebels  lay  in  ambush,  this  very  place  hard  by, 

So  that  an  English  soldier  did  one  of  them  espy, 

And  cried  out,  "  There's  an  Indian  !  "  with  that  they  slatted  out, 

As  fiercely  as  old  lions,  and  hideously  did  shout. 

With  that  our  valiant  English  all  gave  a  loud  hurrah, 
To  show  the  rebel  Indians  they  feared  them  not  a  straw ; 
So  now  the  fight  began,  as  fiercely  as  could  be  ; 
The  Indians  ran  up  to  them,  but  soon  were  forced  to  flee. 

Then  spake  up  Captain  Lovewell,  when  first  the  fight  began, 
"  Fight  on  my  valiant  heroes !  you  see  they  fall  like  rain." 
For,  as  we  are  informed,  the  Indians  were  so  thick, 
A  man  could  scarcely  fire  a  gun,  and  not  some  of  them  hit. 

Then  did  the  rebels  try  their  best  our  soldiers  to  surround, 

But  they  could  not  accomplish  it,  because  there  was  a  pond, 

To  which  our  men  retreated,  and  covered  all  the  rear ; 

Thi  rogues  were  forced  to  flee  them,  although  they  skulked  for  fear. 

Two  logs  there  were  behind  them,  that  close  together  lay; 
Without  being  discovered  they  could  not  get  away ; 
Therefore  our  valiant  English,  they  travelled  in  a  row, 
And  at  a  handsome  distance,  as  they  were  wont  to  go. 

'Twas  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  first  the  fight  begun, 
A.hd  fiercely  did  continue  till  the  setting  of  the  sun. 


THE    BELOVED    SONG.  105 

the  fight,  "  and  for  several  years  afterward  was  the 
most  beloved  song  in  all  New  England." 

Excepting  that  the  Indians,  some  hours  before  'twas  night, 
Drew  off  into  the  bushes,  and  ceased  a  while  to  fight ;  — 

Bu:  soon  again  returned  in  fierce  and  furious  mood, 
Shouting  as  in  the  morning,  but  yet  not  half  so  ]oad  ; 
For,  as  we  are  informed,  so  thick  and  fast  they  fell, 
Scarce  twenty  of  their  number  at  night  did  get  home  well. 

And  that  our  valiant  English  till  midnight  there  did  stay, 
To  see  whether  the  rebels  would  have  another  fray  ; 
But  they  no  more  returning,  they  made  off  towards  their  home, 
And  brought  away  their  wounded,  as  far  as  they  could  come. 

Of  all  our  valiant  English,  there  were  but  thirty-four, 

And  of  the  rebel  Indians,  there  were  about  fourscore  ; 

And  sixteen  of  our  English  did  safely  home  return ; 

The  rest  were  killed  and  wounded,  for  which  we  all  must  mourn 

Our  worthy  Captain  Lovewell  among  them  there  did  die ; 
They  killed  Lieutenant    Robbins,  and  wounded  good   young 

Frye, 

Who  was  our  English  chaplain ;  he  many  Indians  slew, 
And  some  of  them  he  scalped,  when  bullets  round  him  flew. 

Young  Fullam,  too,  I'll  mention,  because  he  fought  so  well  ; 
Endeavoring  to  save  a  man,  a  sacrifice  he  fell ; 
And  yet  our  valiant  Englishmen  in  fight  were  ne'er  dismayed, 
But  still  they  kept  their  motion,  and  Wyman  captain  made   — 

Whc  shot  the  old  chief  Paugus,  which  did  the  foe  defeat, 
Then  set  his  men  in  order,  and  brought  off  the  retreat ; 
And  braving  many  dangers  and  hardships  in  the  way, 
They  safe  arrived  ai  Dunstable.  the  thirteenth  day  of  May. 


106        IMPORTANCE  OF  RELAXATION." 

On  this  pond,  the  scene  of  such  dreadful  carnage, 
Air.  Webster  was  accustomed  to  sail,  and  from  its 
clear,  cool  waters,  to  draw  such  unfortunate  fish  as 
were  too  free  in  their  liberties  with  his  bait. 

Nature  requires  relaxation  after  effort,  whether 
that  effort  be  of  a  mental  or  physical  character. 
This  principle  Mr.  Webster  always  recognized. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  an  individual  who  is  ac- 
customed to  literary  pursuits  will  accomplish  more 
by  a  judicious  alternation  of  hard  study  with  pleas- 
ant recreation  than  though  the  latter  be  entirely  neg- 
lected. The  mind  will  not  endure  a  constant 
draught  upon  its  powers.  It  needs  rest  for  the  re- 
covery of  its  elasticity  and  vigor ;  there  should  be  a 
shutting  up  of  books,  a  relinquishment  of  problems, 
a  cessation  of  mental  effort,  a  throwing  open  of  the 
door,  and  an  escape  of  the  mind,  into  unfettered 
freedom,  in  order  to  secure  that  perfect  repose  which, 
after  great  effort,  nature  needs.  This  was  Mr. 
Webster's  course ;  hence  his  frequent  fishing,  gun- 
ning, and  other  rural  excursions. 

la  September,  1802,  he  relinquished  his  school, 
and  returned  home,  having  made  some  acquisitions, 
both  of  a  pecuniary  and  intellectual  character. 

Mr.  Webster  had  now  passed  that  important  crisis 
in  a  young  man's  life,  which,  in  most  cases,  gives 
character  to  his  whole  history,  namely,  the  choice  of 
a  profession.  He  had  decided  in  favor  of  the  law. 


INFLUENCE    OF    CIRCUMSTANCES.  107 

It  may  not  have  been  impossible  that  the  proximity 
of  Mr  Thompson's  office  to  Webster's  residence 
contributed  much  towards  this  decision.  It  was  so 
easy  for  him  to  slip  in  there,  look  over  the  law 
books,  hear  conversation  upon  legal  questions,  and 
thus  have  his  taste  for  such  pursuits  awakened,  that 
that  office,  in  all  probability,  assisted 'in  turning  his 
mind  in  this  direction.  It  was,  therefore,  a  provi- 
dential circumstance  that  these  influences  existed, 
and  rendered  it  so  easy  for  him  to  enter  upon  the 
study  of  this  science.  Under  another  combination 
of  circumstances,  he  might  as  easily  have  been  in- 
duced to  enter  upon  some  other  pursuit,  and  then 
the  world  would  have  lost  the  benefit  of  his  great 
talents  as  a  statesman. 

After  leaving  Fryeburg,  arrangements  were  made 
for  Mr.  Webster  to  resume  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Mr.  Thompson.  This  gentleman,  though 
well  acquainted  with  his  profession,  adopted  a  mode 
of  instruction  with  his  students  which  was  not  popu- 
lar with  them  at  the  time,  and  which  they  did  not 
approve  in  subsequent  life.  He  was  accustomed 
to  give  them  the  most  difficult  books  first.  On  this 
principle  he  put  into  Mr.  Webster's  hand  Coke  upon 
Littleton.  It  was  a  hard  work  for  a  student  to  mas- 
ter ;  but  Mr.  Webster,  nothing  daunted  by  its  diffi- 
culties, pored  over  it  six  hours  daily.  Although  at 
first  it  was  like  entering  a  primeval  forest,  where  the 


108  WEBSTER'S  PROFICIENCY. 

traveller  has  to  cut  his  own  way,  he  believed  that,  by 
patient  and  persevering  industry,  he  would  in  time 
see  light  on  the  other  side  ;  that  by  mastering  each 
difficulty  as  it  occurred,  as  the  woodman  fells  trees 
singly,  he  would,  before  long,  successfully  cut  his 
way  through  them  all.  Still  he  always  regarded 
that  method  of  introducing  a  boy  to  the  study  of  the 
science  as  a  mistake..  He  has  expressed  himself 
clearly  upon  this  subject  in  the  following  language  : — • 

"  A  boy  of  twenty,  with  no  previous  knowledge 
of  such  subjects,  cannot  understand  Coke.  It  is  folly 
to  set  him  upon  such  an  author.  There  are  propo- 
sitions in  Coke  so  abstract,  and  distinctions  so  nice, 
and  doctrines  embracing  so  many  distinctions  and 
qualifications,  that  it  requires  an  effort  not  only  of  a 
mature  mind,  but  of  a  mind  both  strong  and  mature, 
to  understand  him.  Why  disgust  and  discourage  a 
young  man  by  telling  him  that  he  must  break  into 
his  profession  through  such  a  wall  as  this." 

He  soon  got  upon  other  books,  which  he  studied 
with  greater  pleasure.  Besides  the  attention  which 
at  that  period  he  paid  to  law,  he  also  found  time  to 
read  Hume's  History  of  England,  Shakspeare'a 
plays,  and  the  Latin  classics.  Such  was  the  pro- 
ficiency which  he  made  in  his  profession,  that,  during 
the  second  year  of  his  studies,  he  was  quite  a  sound 
lawyer.  General  Lyman  says,  "  When  clients  came 
for  advice,  he  [Mr.  Webster]  heard,  with  Mr.  Thomp- 


HE    MINDS    HIS    BUSINESS.  109 

son,  a  full  statement  of  the  facts,  and  thereupon  he 
again  and  again,  wrote  out  opinions,  which  Mr 
Thompson,  on  perusal,  adopted,  signed,  and  deliv- 
ered as  his  own.  He  also  displayed  great  tact  in 
conducting  the  lawsuits  pending,  in  marshalling  the 
testimony,  and  in  eliciting  from  witnesses  the  facts 
to  be  proved  on  the  trials.  Many  men,  not  profound 
lawyers,  have  become  eminent  in  their  profession, 
and  have  paved  their  way  to  wealth,  by  their  skill  in 
conducting  a  cause  before  it  was  brought  to  trial." 
It  is  evident  that,  as  when  in  college,  "so  when  study- 
ing law,  Mr.  Webster  minded  his  business.  This  was 
one  great  secret  of  his  success.  Let  American 
youth  remember  this.  At  this  ^period,  Mr.  Webster 
was  not  a  one-idea  man  ;  he  did  not  devote  himself 
exclusively  to  the  law.  He  read  history  and  poetry, 
and  went  on  excursions  of  pleasure ;  but  with  all 
these  other  employments,  he  still  minded  his  business; 
he  kept  his  recreations  within  due  limits.  The  great 
difficulty  with  not  a  few  young  men  is,  that,  in  order 
to  find  time  for  amusement,  they  neglect  important 
duties ;  they  have  not  acquired  that  discipline,  or 
formed  such  habits,  that  they  can,  with  authority,  say 
to  the  attractive  pleasures  of  life,  "  Thus  far  shall 
ye  come,  but  no  farther."  Being  governed  more  by 
their  own  passions  than  by  established  principle,  it 
becomes  extremely  easy  for  them  to  throw  aside 
their  books,  or  abandon  their  employment,  whenever 


110  THE    TURNPIKE    CASE. 

an  opportunity  occurs  for  the  enjoyment  of  some 
agreeable  amusement.  Such  may  reach  mediocrity 
but  there  is  little  probability  of  their  attaining  to  a 
high  degree  of  excellence,  in  any  profession. 

An  incident  is  related  which  shows  that,  whilst 
Mr.  Webster  was  a  student  of  law,  he  developed  the 
same  promptness,  decision,  and  energy,  which  were 
such  conspicuous  traits  of  character,  after  he  had 
entered  upon  public  life. 

A  Captain  Kimball  had  entered  into  contract  to 
open  a  turnpike.  This  contract  was  based  upon 
subscriptions  for  the  object  by  gentlemen  of  wealth, 
a  number  of  whom  were  residents  of  Portsmouth. 
After  the  work  had  b,een  in  progress  for  some  time, 
these  gentlemen  were  called  upon  to  pay  their  sub- 
scriptions :  they  refused.  This  at  once  created  em 
barrassment.  It  was  known  from  the  first  that 
money  would  be  greatly  needed,  and  their  subscrip- 
tions had  been  looked  to  as  the  source  whence  it  was 
to  be  obtained.  When,  therefore,  they  declined  ful- 
filling their  own  obligations,  perplexing  disappoint- 
ment was  the  result.  Captain  Kimball  regarded 
himself  as  greatly  wronged,  and  applied  to  Mr. 
Thompson  for  legal  advice.  Mr.  Thompson  imme- 
diately addressed  the  delinquent  subscribers  letters, 
earnestly  urging  them  to  pay  their  subscriptions. 
The  letters  were  unheeded.  He  then  sent  to  them 
his  oldest  student,  Mr.  Noyes,  to  remonstrate  per- 


WEBSTER'S  DECISION.  Ill 

sonall)  with  them,  but  with  no  better  success 
When  the  failure  of  Mr.  Noyes's  visit  was  made 
known  to  Mr.  Webster,  he  said,  "  Let  me  go  to 
Portsmouth ;  /  will  bring  you  the  money."  Mr. 
Thompson  concluded  to  grant  his  request.  Having 
obtained  the  necessary  authority,  he  set  out ;  he 
drove  his  horse  with  such  speed  that  when  he  reached 
Portsmouth  it  was  covered  with  foam.  Without 
loss  of  time  he  called  on  some  of  the  subscribers, 
and  sent  word  to  others,  that,  he  had  come  to  receive 
their  subscriptions,  and  the  money  must  be  paid. 
He  then  despatched  a  messenger  to  the  sheriff  of  the 
county,  asking  his  presence  immediately.  He  next 
sat  down  to  a  table,  and  very  coolly  commenced 
making  out  writs  for  the  apprehension  of  every  sub- 
scriber. When  the  delinquents  understood  the  bear- 
ing of  these  preparatory  measures,  they  became 
alarmed.  They  saw  they  had  a  hard  customer  to 
deal  with,  and  proposed  that  they  have  a  conversa- 
tion upon  the  subject ;  it  was  granted.  .When  the 
company  assembled,  Mr.  Webster  again  stated  to 
them  the  object  of  his  visit,  and  the  grounds  on 
which  he  made  his  demands,  and  then,  in  a  manner 
in  which  dignity,  courtesy,  and  authority  were 
blended  together,  he  coolly  informed  them  that  he 
would  wait  until  a  certain  hour  (which  he  specified) 
for  the  money  and  that  if  by  that  time  it  was  not 
paid,  he  would  put  the  writs  into  the  hands  of  the 


112  DELINQUENT    SUBSCRIBERS. 

sheriff,  and  have  them  all  immediately  arrested.  This 
produced  the  desired  effect.  At  that  time  imprison- 
ment for  debt  had  not  been  abolished  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. The  delinquents,  therefore,  knew  what  they 
had  to  expect  if  they  persisted  in  their  refusal.  The 
appointed  hour  arrived  ;  Mr.  Webster's  horse  was 
ready  for  him  to  mount ;  the  sheriff  was  on  hand  to 
receive  and  execute  the  writs  ;  all  things  were  ready 
for  the  apprehension  of  the  guilty.  They  now  saw 
that  the  subject  could  neither  be  trifled  with  nor 
postponed  ;  the  crisis  was  reached  ;  the  money  was 
paid  over  to  Mr.  Webster  as  fast  as  he  could  count 
and  receipt  for  it.  Having  by  his  energy  and  tact  ac- 
complished his  object,  he  returned  home  and  reported 
his  success,  to  the  astonishment  and  great  gratifica- 
tion of  those  immediately  concerned. 

When  any  enterprise  which  will  involve  a  con- 
siderable outlay  of  money  is  projected,  it  is  a  com- 
mon practice  to  receive  subscriptions  for  that  object, 
and  then  commence  the  work  before  those  subscriptions 
are  paid.  It  follows,  as  a  necessary  consequence,  that 
if  any  of  those  subscriptions  are  withdrawn,  those  per- 
sons who  are  practically  engaged  in  the  enterprise  will 
be  subjected  to  embarrassments  to  the  full  extent  of 
the  amount  thus  withdrawn,  and  will  either  have  to 
raise  the  funds  from  some  other  source,  or  else  cre- 
ate a  debt ;  when,  if*  they  could  have  foreseen  this 
result,  they  would  have  done  nothing  towards  the 


SUBSCRIPTIONS    SHOULD    BE    PAID.  113 

execution  of-  the  project  until  the  funds  subscribed 
had  been  paid  in.  This  is  unjust:  when  a  person 
subscribes  towards  a  railroad,  a  canal,  a  church,  or 
any  benevolent  cause,  he  is  in  honor  and  in  justice 
bound  to  pay  that  subscription.  He  should  regard 
it  as  sacred  as  a  promissory  note ;  it  has  all  the  ele- 
ments of  such  note ;  it  is  a  promise  to  pay  a  certain 
specified  sum  for  a  certain  specified  object,  and  a 
man  has  no  more  right  to  refuse  payment  than  he 
has  to  refuse  the  payment  of  any  other  pecuniary 
obligation.  This  obligation  is,  if  possible,  strength- 
ened, when,  by  virtue  of  his  promise,  the  object  for 
which  he  subscribed  is  commenced,  and  debts  con- 
tracted. He  encouraged  the  enterprise,  and  he  is 
justly  held  responsible  to  the  full  extent  of  that  en- 
couragement. 

These  remarks  are  made  because  it  is  sometimes 
the  case,  that  individuals  who  have  subscribed 
towards  an  object  afterwards  change  their  minds, 
and  refuse  payment.  Such  instances  have  occurred 
in  benevolent  and  religious  objects.  As  there  is  no 
danger  that  the  law  will  be  resorted  to  in  order  to 
enforce  payment  of  such  subscriptions,  they  can  be 
repudiated  with  impunity.  But  let  it  be  remem- 
bered that  such  conduct  is  disreputable,  and  by 
every  man  of  honor  is  condemned. 

To  every  young  person,  whose  eye  may  fall  upon 
this  page,  would  we  say,  Never  subscribe  towards  an 


114  MR.    WEBSTER    REMOVES    TO    BOSTON 

object  unless  you  are  convinced  of  its  importance  , 
but  when  your  promise  is  once  given,  sacredly  re- 
deem it. 

After  remaining  in  Mr.  Thompson's  office  two 
years,  Mr.  Webster  desired  a  change,  where  he 
could  acquire  a  knowledge  of  other  departments  of 
law  besides  those  which  were  pursued  in  the  office 
of  Mr.  T.  For  this  purpose  he  removed,  in  July, 
1804,  to  Boston,  and  placed  himself  under  the  in- 
struction of  that  distinguished  counsellor,  Hon. 
Christopher  Gore.  His  opportunities  for  acquiring 
broader  views  of  his  profession  were  here  enjoyed. 
He  had  access  to  an  extensive  and  valuable  library, 
and  the  privilege  of  attending  the  sessions  of  the 
Supreme  and  Circuit  Courts,  where  questions  of  the 
gravest  importance  were  discussed  by  the  most 
learned  and  eminent  lawyers.  He  was  not  idle 
while  attending  these  sessions ;  but,  with  pen  in 
hand,  he  carefully  watched  the  opinions  of  the 
learned  judges,  and  made  them  matters  of  record. 
He  continued  in  M£  Gore's  office  nearly  a  year, 
where  he  studied  with  diligence  the  principles  of  the 
common  and  municipal  law,  the  laws  of  nations, 
and  the  science  of  special  pleading.  In  addition 
to  his  laborious  professional  studies,  he  managed  to 
secure  time  for  a  wide  range  of  general  reading. 

Being  now  regarded  as  qualified  for  admittance 
to  the  bar,  his  teacher,  Hon.  Mr.  Gore,  introduced 


ADMITTED    TO    THE    BAR.  115 

him  to  court,  and  made  a  motion  that  he  be  admit- 
ted to  practice.  It  is  greatly  to  the  credit  of  Mr. 
Webster  that  he  had  produced  such  a  favorable  im- 
pression upon  his  teacher,  that  when  he  made  this 
motion  for  the  admission  of  his  young  student  to 
the  bar,  he  accompanied  it  with  some  highly  com- 
mendatory remarks.  Mr.  Everett  says,  "  He  dwelt 
with  emphasis  on  the  remarkable  attainments  and 
uncommon  promise  of  his  pupil,  and  closed  with  a 
prediction  of  his  future  eminence." 

It  is  sometimes  the  case,  that  the  general  estima- 
tion in  which  an  individual  is  held  is  far  higher  than 
that  which  he  enjoys  amongst  his  more  intimate  as- 
sociates. In  respect  to  such, 

"  'Tis  distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view ; " 

and  this  enchantment  is  dispelled  in  proportion  as 
the  distance  diminishes.  With  Mr.  Webster  it  was 
otherwise.  Those  who  knew  him  best  cherished  for 
him  the  highest  esteem.  Admiration  for  his  talents 
and  acquirements  increased  in  proportion  to  one's 
familiar  acquaintance  with  him. 

By  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  was  fairly  launched 
upon  the  world.  Where  the  winds  and  waves  of 
fickle  fortune  would  carry  him,  —  what  shoals  and 
quicksands  he  would  escape,  or  against  what  rocks 
he  would  dash,  —  how  little  did  he  know  !  He 
doubtless  cherished  certain  aspirations,  and  probably 


116  HIS    ASPIRATIONS. 

had  a  course  of  life  marked  out  in  his  own  mind, 
which  he  expected  to  pursue.  It  would  be  interest- 
ing, if  we  could  learn  what  these  expectations  were, 
to  see  in  what  respects  they  were  met,  and  wherein 
he  was  disappointed  by  the  events  of  his  subse- 
quent life. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Has  a  Clerkship  offered  him.  —  Declines  it. —  His  Father  dis- 
pleased. —  Pays  his  Father's  Debts.  —  His  filial  Attachment.  — 
Some  treat  their  Parents  unkindly.  —  Mr.  Webster's  first 
Plea.  —  He  astonishes  every  body.  —  Controlling  Witnesses.  — 
The  Detection.  —  The  Character  of  his  Arguments.  —  Webstei 
and  Mason.  —  "  Import  a  young  Earthquake." 

MR.  WEBSTER'S  stamina  of  character  was  severely 
tested  by  an  incident  which  occurred  about  the  time 
that  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  His  father  at  that 
period  was  one  of  the  judges  of  the  County  Court 
in  New  Hampshire,  and  though  not  a  man  of  liberal 
education,  he  was  highly  respected  for  his  strong 
common  sense,  his  sterling  integrity,  and  his  quick 
perception  of  the  particular  points  at  issue  in  the 
various  cases  of  litigation  that  came  before  him. 

The  clerkship  of  that  court,  which  was  then  va- 
cant, was  tendered  to  his  son.  In  some  respects  it 
was  a  desirable  position.  Mr.  March,  in  his  spirited 
account  of  the  affair,  says,  — 

"  The  office  was  worth  fifteen  hundred  dollars  per 
annum,  wnich  was  in  those  days,  and  in  that  neigh- 
borhood, a  competency  —  or  rather  absolute  wealth. 
Mr.  Webster  himself  considered  it  a  great  prize, 
and  was  eager  to  accept  it.  He  weighed  the  ques- 

117 


118      FILIAL    DUTY    AND    PERSONAL    AMBITION. 

tion  in  his  mind.  On  the  one  side  he  saw  immediate 
comfort ;  on  the  other,  at  the  best,  a  doubtful  strug- 
gle. By  its  acceptance  he  made  sure  his  own  good 
condition,  and,  what  was  nearer  to  his  heart,  that  of 
his  family.  By  its  refusal  he  condemned  both  him- 
self and  them  to  an  uncertain  and  probably  harass- 
ing future.  Whatever  .  aspirations  he  might  have 
cherished  of  professional  distinction,  he  was  willing 
cheerfully  to  relinquish,  to  promote  the  immediate 
welfare  of  those  he  held  most  dear. 

"  But  Mr.  Gore  peremptorily  and  vehemently 
interposed  his  dissent.  He  urged  every  argument 
against  the  purpose.  He  exposed  its  absurdity  and 
its  inconsequence.  He  appealed  to  the  ambition  of 
his  pupil  —  once  a  clerk,  he  said,  he  always  would 
be  a  clerk — there  would  be  no  step  upwards.  He 
attacked  him,  too,  on  the  side  of  his  family  affec- 
tion, telling  him  that  he  would  be  far  more  able 
to  gratify  his  friends  from  his  professional  labors 
than  in  the  clerkship.  '  Go  on,'  he  said,  '  and  finish 
your  studies  ;  you  are  poor  enough,  but  there  are 
greater  evils  than  poverty ;  live  on  no  man's  favor  ; 
what  bread  you  do  eat,  let  it  be  the  bread  of  inde- 
pendence. Pursue  your  profession  ;  make  yourself 
useful  to  your  friends,  and  a  little  formidable  to  your 
enemies,  and  you  have  nothing  to  fear.' 

"Diverted  from  his  design  by  arguments  like 
these,  it  still  remained  to  Mr.  Webster  to  acquaint 


HE    DECLINES    OFFICE.  119 

his  father  with  his  determination,  and  satisfy  him  of 
its  propriety.  He  felt  this  would  be  no  easy  task, 
as  his  father  had  set  his  heart  so  much  upon  the 
office  ;  but  he  determined  to  go  home  immediately, 
and  give  him  in  full  the  reasons  of  his  conduct. 

"  It  was  midwinter,  and  he  looked  round  for  a 
country  sleigh,  —  for  stage  coaches  at  that  time  were 
things  unknown  in  the  centre  of  New  Hampshire,  — 
and  finding  one  that  had  come  down  to  market,  he 
took  passage  therein,  and  in  two  or  three  days  was 
set  down  at  his  father's  door.  (The  same  journey 
is  made  now  in  four  hours  by  steam.)  It  was  even- 
ing when  he  arrived.  I  have  heard  him  tell  the 
story  of  the  interview.  His  father*was  sitting  before 
the  fire,  and  received  him  with  manifest  joy.  He 
looked  feebler  than  he  had  ever  appeared,  but  his 
countenance  lighted  up  on  seeing  his  cleric  stand  be- 
fore him  in  good  health  and  spirits.  He  lost  no 
time  in  alluding  to  the  great  appointment  —  said 
how  spontaneously  it  had  been  made  —  how  kindly 
the  chief  justice  proposed  it  —  with  what  unanimity 
all  assented,  &c.  During  this  speech  it  can  be  well 
imagined  how  embarrassed  Mr.  Webster  felt,  com- 
pelled, as  he  thought,  from  a  conviction  of  duty,  to 
disappoint  his  father's  sanguine  expectations.  Nev- 
ertheless he  commanded  his  countenance  and  voice, 
so  as  to  reply  in  a  sufficiently  assured  manner.  He 
spoke  gayly  about  the  office  ;  expressed  his  great 


J20  HIS  MOTHER'S  PREDICTION. 

obligation  to  their  honors,  and  his  intention  to  write 
them  a  most  respectful  letter  —  if  he  could  have 
consented  to  record  any  body's  judgments,  he  should 
have  been  proud  to  have  recorded  their  honors',  &c. 
He  proceeded  in  this  strain  till  his  father  exhibited 
signs  of  amazement,  it  having  occurred  to  him, 
finally,  that  his  son  might  all  the  while  be  serious. 
'  Do  you  intend  to  decline  this  office  1  '  he  said  at 
length.  '  Most  certainly,'  replied  his  son  ;  '  I  can- 
not think  of  doing  otherwise.  I  mean  to  use  my 
tongue  in  the  courts,  not  my  pen  —  to  be  an  actor, 
not  a  register  of  other  men's  actions.' 

"  For  a  moment  Judge  Webster  seemed  angry. 
He  rocked  his  clfair  slightly,  a  flash  went  over  his 
eye,  softened  by  age,  but  even  then  black  as  jet  ; 
but  it  immediately  disappeared,  and  his  countenance 
regained  its  usual  serenity.  Parental  love  and  par- 
tiality could  not,  after  all,  but  have  been  gratified 
with  the  son's  devotion  to  an  honorable  and  distin- 
guished profession,  and  seeming  confidence  of  suc- 
cess in  it.  '  Well,  my  son,'  said  Judge  Webster, 
finally,  *  your  mother  has  always  said  that  you  would 
come  to  something  or  nothing  —  she  was  not  sure 
which.  I  think  you  are  now  about  settling  that 
doubt  for  her.'  The  judge  never  afterwards  spoke 
to  his  son  on  the  subject." 

The  account  of  this  interesting  event,  as  given 
by  General  Lyman,  in  his  "  Memorials,"  contains 


A    BENEFACTOR.  121 

«ome  additional  facts,  which  ought  not  to  be  omitted 
here.      We  give  them  in  his  own  language  :  — 

"  The  difficulty  of  satisfying  his  father  that  the 
course  he  had  resolved  to  pursue  was  the  best,  now 
arose  in  his  mind.  To  aid  Mr.  Webster  and  his 
brother  Ezekiel  in  obtaining  an  education,  their 
father  had  resorted  to  borrowing  money,  and  there 
was  a  mortgage  for  it  to  be  paid.  A  debt  was  a  sore 
encumbrance,  more  so  in  those  days  than  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  Ezekiel  Webster  was  doing  his  best,  and 
was  then  in  Boston,  teaching  a  select  school,  to  earn 
money  towards  discharging  that  mortgage.  Edward 
Everett,  since  so  highly  distinguished,  was,  by  the 
by,  one  of  his  pupils.  The  desire  to  relieve  his 
excellent  father  from  all  pecuniary  responsibility  on 
his  account,  now  that  he  had  the  power  to  do  it,  was 
of  course  very  great ;  but  the  sacrifice  of  his  future 
prospects  was  in  the  scale  weighing  against  the  clerk- 
ship and  its  emoluments.  In  this  dilemma,  his  friend, 
Mr.  Rufus  Green  Emery,  —  be  it  mentioned  to  the 
credit  of  his  fame,  —  on  hearing  what  the  difficulty 
was,  put  gold  into  Mr.  Webster's  pocket,  and  sent 
him  home  to  see  his  father  personally  on  the  subject. 
I  have  heard  Mr.  Webster  trll  the  story,  and  it  is  a 
pity  that  I  should  mar  it.  On  arriving  at  home,  he 
found  his  father  sitting  in  his  easy  chair,  not  know- 
ing one  word  of  what  had  passed  in  Boston,  or  of  his 
intentions  as  to  the  clerkship.  He  received  his  son 


122  PAYS  HIS  FATHER'S  DEBTS. 

affectionately,  and  with  a  manner  that  seemed  to  say, 
Our  anxieties  are  now  ended.'  His  father  lost  no 
time  in  telling  him  how  '  readily  and  how  handsomely 
his  "request  had  been  complied  with.  I  had  not,' 
said  he  to  his  son,  '  more  than  mentioned  it  before 
it  was  done.'  'His  eyes,'  said  Mr.  Webster,  «  were 
brimful  of  the  tears  of  gratitude,  as  he  told  it  to 
me.' 

"  '  Judge,'  said  he,  '  of  my  father's  disappoint- 
ment and  manifest  vexation,  when  I  told  him  I  must 
resign  the  office.  He  could  not  at  first  believe  his 
own  ears.  He  of  course  wanted  to  know  the  reason. 
I  told  him  I  could  do  better  !  I  laid  down  the  gold 
to  pay  the  mortgage,  and  all  the  debts  on  my  own 
and  my  brother's  account.  I  wrote  a  letter  thanking 
the  judges  for  the  honor  they  had  done  me,  and 
most  respectfully  resigned  the  office  to  which  they 
had  appointed  me.  Thereupon  I  hastened  back  to 
Boston,  where  the  court  was  sitting  at  which  I  was 
licensed  to  practise.  I  then  for  the  first  time  held 
up  my  hand  and  took  the  oaths  of  office.' " 

Mr.  Gore,  for  the  advice  which  he  then  gave,  and 
Mr.  Emery,  for  his  removal  of  pecuniary  embarrass- 
ment, merit  the  thanks  of  the  whole  country.  That 
advice  and  assistance  essentially  aided  in  making 
Mr.  Webster  the  great  American  statesman  that  he 
was.  If  he  had  accepted  a  clerkship  in  court,  he 
Bright  have  died  an  incumbent  of  the  office.  He 


SETTLES    IN    BOSCAWEN.  123 

would  no  doubt  have  been  punctual,  faithful,  and 
industrious.  He  would  have  been  a  model  clerk, 
but  he  probably  would  never  have  moved  senates, 
nor  negotiated  treaties.  Here  again  we  may  see 
the  intervention  of  divine  Providence.  Why  did 
lie  happen  to  be  a  student  of  Mr.  Gore  ?  Why  did 
that  appointment  of  clerk  reach  him  before  he  had 
left  his  studies  and  returned  home  1  Why  did  Mr. 
Gore  cherish  the  views  and  give  the  advice  he  did  1 
Why,  too,  did  Mr.  Emery  step  forward  and  remove 
the  strongest  temptation  to  acceptance  out  of  the 
way  ?  Why  this  combination  of  circumstances,  ex- 
cept that  a  kind  Providence  interfered  1  Had  Mr. 
Gore's  advice  been  the  opposite  of  what  it  was,  or 
had  Mr.  Emery  been  indifferent  to  the  subject,  who 
can  tell  what  would  have  been  the  results  ? 

After  his  admission  to  the  bar,  Mr.  Webster  went 
to  Amherst,  in  New  Hampshire,  where  his  father 
was  holding  court,  and  accompanied  him  home.  It 
had  been  his  intention  to  open  an  office  in  Ports- 
mouth. That  being  a  large  town,  and  possessing 
some  foreign  commerce,  it  presented  a  promising 
field  for  practice.  But  filial  duty  prevented.  The 
infirmities  of  age  were  now  creeping  upon  his  father 
His  brother  Ezekiel  was  absent,  and,  it  being  desi 
rable  that  one  of  the  sons  should  be  near  the  home- 
stead, Mr.  Webster  relinquished  the  idea  of  settling 
down  at  Portsmouth,  and  opened  an  office  in  Bos- 


124  HIS    FILIAL    ATTACHMENT. 

cawen,  near  the  residence  of  his  father,  and  com- 
menced practice  as  a  country  lawyer.  This  was 
not  an  encouraging  field,  but  the  reason  of  its  selec- 
tion developed  a  beautiful  trait  in  Mr.  Webster's 
character.  His  attachment  to  his  parents  was  strong 
and  tender.  Although  he  was  now  of  age,  and  had 
a  right  to  go  where  he  chose  to  seek  his  fortune, 
yet  his  filial  affection  prompted  him  to  forego  that 
right,  and  to  settle  down  near  the  homestead,  that 
he  might  cheer  the  hearts  of  his  parents  in  their  de- 
cline of  life,  and  be  at  hand  to  render  any  service 
which  they  might  need.  No  one  denies  that  young 
children  ought  to  love  and  reverence  their  parents  ; 
but,  alas !  examples  are  too  numerous  of  those  who 
seem  to  act  as  if,  when  they  reached  their  majority, 
they  outgrew  filial  obligation  —  as  if  from  that  pe- 
riod their  language  to  their  parents  was,  "It  is  a 
gift  by  whatsoever  thou  mightest  be  profited  of 
me  "  —  it  is  a  gratuity,  a  favor,  and  not  the  dis 
charge  of  an  obligation.  Their  parents  are  neg- 
lected, their  feelings  set  at  nought,  their  wishes  dis- 
regarded. They  are  considered  and  treated  as  an 
encumbrance ;  their  death  approaches  too  slowly  ; 
and  when  it  occurs,  their  affectionate  children  are 
relieved  of  a  great  burden.  With  Mr.  Webster  an 
opposite  class  of  feelings  predominated.  Affection- 
ate attachment  to  his  parents  was  a  prominent  trait 
of  his  character.  For  their  comfort  he  sacrificed 


HIS    APPEARANCE    IN    COURT.  125 

for  the  time  being,  whatever  emoluments  he  might 
have  received  in  a  larger  but  more  distant  field  of 
professional  labor.  He  has  said  in  a  letter,  "  My 
opening  an  office  in  Boscawen  was  that  I  might  be 
near  him,"  i.  e.,  his  father.  The  sign  which  he  then 
hung  out,  with  "  D.  WEBSTER,  Attorney,"  upon  it, 
is  said  to  be  still  in  existence.  By  some  of  his  ad- 
mirers it  would  be  highly  prized,  and  treasured  as  a 
sacred  memento  of  him  whose  name  it  bears. 

Down  to  the  time  that  Mr.  Webster  commenced 
the  practice  of  law,  he  was  a  thin  and  sickly-looking 
young  man.  His  appearance  in  this  respect  was 
very  different  from  what  it  was  in  the  later  periods 
of  his  life.  It  was  not  at  all  adapted  to  prepossess 
his  hearers  in  his  favor,  if  we  except  his  eloquent 
eye  and  expressive  countenance.  His  physical  con- 
stitution was  by  no  means  the  appropriate  represen- 
tation of  his  mental  character.  Under  his  outward 
weakness  was  concealed  great  intellectual  strength, 
of  which  the  following  incident  furnishes  a  striking 
illustration.  The  first  case  which  he  ever  plead 
before  a  jury  was  of  a  civil  character.  It  was  one 
of  considerable  interest  to  the  parties  concerned, 
and  created  no  small  amount  of  public  excitement. 
Colonel  William  Webster,  a  remote  relative  of  Dan- 
iel, was  the  sheriff  of  the  county.  After  the  trial 
was  over,  the  sheriff  stated  to  a  friend,  that  he 
thought,  "  when  Mr.  Webster  rose,  that  he  would 


l26  HIS    FIRST    PLEA. 

not  stand  up  long ;  I  was  ashamed  to  see  so  lean 
and  feeble  a  young  man  come  into  court  bearing  the 
mini  3  of  Webster  ;  but  he  astonished  every  body  with 
his  eloquence,  learning,  and  powers  of  reasoning." 

He  exhibited  such  a  familiar  acquaintance  with 
the  principles  of  law,  such  skill  in  marshalling  his 
facts,  such  ingenuity  in  stating  them  in  the  most  fa- 
forable  manner  for  his  client,  and  such  power  of 
analysis  and  argument,  that  from  this  time  he  was 
never  in  want  of  business.  Notwithstanding  his  thin 
and  meagre  appearance,  he  produced  a  decidedly 
favorable  effect  upon  those  who  heard  him ;  his 
strength  was  mental,  not  physical.  Under  a  feeble 
exterior  he  concealed  the  elements  of  an  intellectual 
giant.  This  first  plea  of  Mr.  Webster  was  heard 
by  his  father,  and  it  was  the  only  one  to  which  he 
had  the  pleasure  to  listen.  The  old  gentleman,  who, 
as  we  have  said,  was  then  one  of  the  judges  of 
New  Hampshire,  died  soon  after,  but  not  before  he 
had  heard  predictions  of  his  son's  professional  suc- 
cess, and  had  seen  sufficient  evidence  of  his  genius 
to  justify  their  probability. 

It  was  an  interesting  moment  to  them  both,  when 
the  son,  after  having  spent  years  in  his  collegiate 
and  legal  studies,  was,  by  this  first  professional  essay, 
to  show  his  father  the  "  first  fruits  "  of  his  long  and 
laborious  training.  It  was  doubtless  to  Mr.  Webster 
a  pleasant  recollection  all  his  subsequent  life,  that  his 


THE    TAVERN    BILL.  127 

father  was  favored  with  the  opportunity  of  hearing 
liim  at  least  once  before  he  died  ;  and  the  father 
must  have  accounted  it  no  common  privilege  that  he 
was  permitted  to  witness  this  early  effort  of  a  beloved 
son  in  the  new  and  difficult  sphere  which  he  had 
chosen. 

This  first  argument  of5  Mr.  Webster  before  a  jury 
is  said  to  have  been  founded  upon  a  tavern  bill 
amounting  only  to  about  twenty-four  dollars.  It  was 
an  encouraging  circumstance  that  the  verdict  ren- 
dered was  in  favor  of  his  client,  the  jury  awarding 
him  seventeen  dollars. 

Another  case  which  he  conducted  at  the  same 
term  of  court  he  lost,  the  jury  returning  a  verdict 
for  an  amount  somewhat  larger  than  the  above 
against  his  client.  This  was  in  1805  ;  the  next  year 
he  exhibited  in  a  greater  degree  his  abilities  as  a 
counsellor  and  a  pleader.  At  that  time  an  argu- 
ment which  he  delivered  made  such  an  impression 
upon  a  lad  of  some  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age,  that 
though  nearly  fifty  years  have  passed  away,  he  re 
members  the  effect  which  it  produced  upon  those  who 
heard  it,  and  the  strong  commendation  which  it  re- 
ceived from  them.  "  I  recollect,"  he  writes,  "  with 
perfect  distinctness,  the  sensation  which  the  speech 
produced  upon  the  multitude.*  There  was  a  great 
throng  there,  and  they  were  loud  in  his  praise  As 

*  R.  F.  French,  Esq. 


128  KNACK    OF    TALKING. 

eoori  as  the  adjournment  took  place,  the  lawyers 
dropped  into  my  father's  office,  and  there  the  whole 
bearing  of  the  young  man  underwent  a  discussion. 
It  wag  agreed  on  all  hands  that  he  had  made  an  ex- 
traordinary effort,  when ,  hy  way  of  ac- 
counting for  it,  said,  '  Ah,  Webster  has  been  study- 
ing in  Boston,  and  has  got  a  knack  of  talk- 
ing ;  but  let  him  take  it  rough  and  tumble  a  while 
here  in  the  bush,  and  we  shall  see  whether  he  will 
do  so  much  better  than  other  folks.' " 

After  he  had  fairly  entered  into  practice,  Mr.  Web- 
ster rose  rapidly  in  his  profession. 

"  It  is  stated  in  the  Life  of  Chief  Justice  Smith, 
that  in  1806,  before  Mr.  Webster  had  been  admitted 
as  a  counsellor  in  the  Superior  Court,  —  and  of 
course  before  he  was  entitled  to  address  the  jury, — 
being  engaged  as  attorney  in  a  cause  of  no  great  pe- 
cuniary importance,  but  of  some  interest  and  some 
intricacy,  he  was  «  allowed  to  examine  the  witnesses, 
and  briefly  to  state  his  case,  both  upon  the  law  and 
tne  facts.  Having  done  this,  he  handed  his  brief  to 
Mr.  Wilson,  the  senior  counsel,  for  the  full  argu- 
ment of  the  matter.  But  the  chief  justice  had  no- 
ticed him,  and  on  leaving  the  court  house  said  to  a 
member  of  the  bar,  that  he  Jutd  never  luftfrt  iiu-i  *u<Ji 
a  yaung  man  ax  t/tat.'  "  * 

It  is  often  the  case  that  clients  endeavor  to  con- 

*  Joel  J'arker,  LL.  I). 


CONTROLLING    WITNESSES.  129 

» 

trol  the  evidence  which  their  witnesses  are  to  give  in 
their  case.  Sometimes  this  interference  is  unduly 
cvet  s>i\e,  and  recoils  with  tremendous  force  upon 
Mm  who  has  practised  it.  Such  an  instance  occurred 
during  the  early  part  of  Mr.  Webster's  career. 
As  he  occasionally  narrated  it  for  the  amusement  of 
Ins  friends,  we  will  give  it  in  his  own  words  :  — 

••  Soon  after  commencing  the  practice  of  my  pro- 
fession at  Portsmouth,  I  was  waited  on  by  an  old 
acquaintance  of  my  father's,  resident  in  an  adjacent 
county,  \\lio  wished  to  engage  my  professional  ser- 
vices. Some  years  previous,  he  had  rented  a  farm, 
with  the  clear  understanding  that  he  could  purchase 
it,  after  the  expiration  of  his  lease,  for  one  thousand 
dollars.  Finding  the  said  farm  productive,  he  soon 
determined  to  own  it ;  and,  as  he  laid  aside  money 
for  the  purchase,  he  was  prompted  to  improve  what 
he  felt  certain  he  would  possess.  But  his  landlord, 
finding  the  property  greatly  increased  in  value,  cool- 
ly refused  to  receive  the  one  thousand  dollars,  when 
in  due  time  it  was  presented;  and  when  his  extor- 
tionate demand  of  double  that  sum  was  refused,  he 
at  mice  brought  an  action  of  ejectment.  The  man 
had  but  the  one  thousand  dollars,  and  an  unblem- 
ished reputation  ;  yet  I  willingly  undertook  his  case. 

"The  opening  argument  of  the  plaint  itTs  attorney 
left  me  little  ground  for  hope.  He  stated  that  he 
could  prove  that  my  client  hired  the  farm,  but  th:-n> 


130  THE    DETECTION. 

was  not  ;i  word  in  the  lease  about  the  sale,  nor  was 
there  a  word  spoken  about  the  sale  when  the  lease 
was  signed,  as  he  should  prove  by  a  witness.  In 
short,  his  was  a  clear  case,  and  I  left  the  court  rogin 
at  dinner  time  with  feeble  hopes  of  success.  By 
chance,  I  sat  at  table*  next  a  newly-commissioned 
militia  officer,  and  a  brother  lawyer  began  to  joke 
him  about  his  lack  of  martial  knowledge.  '  Indeed,' 
he  jocosely  remarked,  '  you  should  write  down  the 
orders,  and  get  old  W.  to  beat  them  into  your 
sconce,  as  I  saw  him  this  morning,  with  a  paper  in 
his  hand,  teaching  something  to  young  M.  in  the 
court-house  entry.' 

"  Can  it  be,  I  thought,  that  old  W.,  the  plaintiff 
in  the  case,  was  instructing  young  M.,  who  was  his 
reliable  witness  1 

"  After  dinner  the  court  was  reopened,  and  M. 
was  put  on  the  stand.  He  was  examined  by  the 
plaintiff's  counsel,  and  certainly  told  a  clear,  plain 
story,  repudiating  all  knowledge  of  any  agreement 
to  sell.  When  he  had  concluded,  the  opposite  coun- 
sel, with  a  triumphant  glance,  turned  to  me,  and 
asked  me  if  I  was  satisfied.  '  Not  quite,'  I  replied. 

"  I  had  noticed  a  piece  of  paper  protruding  from 
M.'s  pocket,  and  hastily  approaching  him,  I  seized 
it  before  he  had  the  least  idea  of  my  intention. 
'Now,'  I  asked,  'tell  me  if  this  paper  does  not  de- 
tail the  story  you  have  so  clearly  told,  and  is  it  not 


CHARACTER    OF    HIS    PLEAS..  131 

false  ?  '  The  witness  hung  his  head  with  shame  ; 
and  when  the  paper  was  found  to  be  what  I  had 
supposed,  and  in  the  very  handwriting  of  old  W.,  he 
lost  his  case  at  once.  Nay,  there  was  such  a  storm 
of  indignation  against  hinij  that  he  soon  removed  to 
the  west. 

"Years  afterwards,  visiting  New  Hampshire,  I 
was  the  guest  of  my  professional  brethren  at  a  pub- 
lic dinner  ;  and  .towards  the  close  of  the  festivities,  I 
was  asked  if  I  would  solve  a  great  doubt  by  answer- 
ing a  question.  «  Certainly.'  « Well,  then,  Mr. 
Webster,  we  have  often  wondered  how  you  knew 
what  was  in  M.'s  pocket.'  " 

During  his  practice  of  the  law,  Mr.  Webster 
had  many  cases  of  great  importance  committed  to 
him ;  he  very  early  took  a  high  stand  in  his  profes- 
sion ;  he  became  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the 
bar  ;  he  was  opposed  by  the  most  distinguished  law- 
yers of  which  the  country  could  boast,  yet  always 
maintained  an  honorable  position  among  them.  He 
was  so  simple  in  the  statement  of  his  propositions,  so 
forcible  in  his  argument,  so  clear  in  his  illustrations, 
there  was  such  an  honest,  common-sense  straightfor- 
wardness about  him,  which  prompted  him  to  march, 
without  any  circuitousness,  directly  to  his  object,  that 
he  never  failed  of  producing  a  deep  impression  upon 
the  mind  of  a  jury  ;  he  addressed  them  as  men  ca- 
pable of  understanding  an  argument,  as  men  not  to 


132  ANECDOTES. 

be  borne  away  by  exciting  appeals  to  their  passions, 
but  to  be  moved  only  by  a  calm,  clear,  and  logical 
address  to  their  judgment.  Such  addresses  he  gave 
them.  He  reasoned  to  convince,  and  was  suc- 
cessful. 

To  show  how  highly  his  legal  abilities  «nd  powers 
of  oratory  were  estimated  by  his  contemporaries,  the 
following  anecdotes  are  given  :  — 

Mr.  Webster  practised  law  in  Portsmouth  nearly 
nine  years,  and  during  that  time  one  of  his  best 
friends,  and  also  his  most  prominent  competitor,  was 
the  distinguished  Jeremiah  Mason.  On  one  occasion 
a  gentleman  called  upon  the  former  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  his  services  in  a  lawsuit ;  but  Mr.  Web- 
ster was  compelled  to  decline  the  engagement,  but 
recommended  his  client  to  Mr.  Mason. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  the  abilities  of  Mr.  Ma- 
son ?  "  said  the  gentleman. 

"  I  think  him  second  to  no  man  in  the  country," 
replied  Mr.  Webster. 

The  gentleman  called  upon  Mr.  Mason,  and  hav- 
ing secured  his  promise  of  assistance,  he  thought  he 
would  gratify  his  curiosity,  and  therefore  questioned 
him  as  to  his  opinion  of  Mr.  Webster.  "  He's  the 
very  devil,  in  any  case  whatsoever,"  replied  Mr. 
Mason  ;  "  and  if  he's  against  you,  I  beg  to  be  ex- 
cused" 

On  another  occasion,  a  gentleman  of  Nantucker 


ANECDOTES.  .  133 

accosted  a  friend  by  saying,  "  I  have  wished  to  see 
you  for  some  days,  for  I  am  in  trouble,  and  wish 
your  friendly  advice."  "  What  can  it  be  ?  "  replied 
the  other.  "  Why,  I  have  a  lawsuit,  and  Webster  is 
opposed  to  me  :  what  shall  I  do  ?  "  "  My  advice 
is,"  was  the  answer,  "  that  your  only  chance  of  es- 
cape is,  to  send  to  Smyrna  and  import  a:  young  earth- 
quake." 

The  extravagant  character  of  these  replies  was 
prompted  by  the  high  opinion  which  was  entertained 
of  his  commanding  talents. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

A  dreadful  Deed.  —  General  Alarm. —  Attack  of  two  Koot- 
pads Hatch's  Disclosure.  —  Grant's  Letters.  —  Grant  ar- 
rested.—  The  Knapps  arrested.  —  The  Confession. — The  Plot 
explained.  —  Palmer  imprisoned.  —  Crowninshield's  Signal.  — 
Palmer's  Fear.  — The  Trial.  — Mr.  Webster's  Plea.  — The 
Wicked  insnare  themselves.  —  Extraordinary  Things.  *-  Avoid 
bad  Company. 

ALTHOUGH  it  does  not  fall  in  with  the  object  of 
this  volume  to  give  an  account  of  the  various  cases 
which  Mr.  Webster  conducted  through  court,  yet 
there  was  one  so  peculiar,  so  exciting,  so  full  of 
tragic  interest,  so  illustrative  of  various  conflicting 
moral  principles,  and  which  furnished  an  occasion 
for  one  of  his  most  impressive  pleas,  that  we  are  un- 
willing to  omit  its  recital  here. 

In  the  city  of  Salem,  in  the  State  of  Massachu- 
setts, is  a  house  which  is  pointed  out  to  strangers  as 
a  place  where  an  act  of  thrilling  atrocity  was  a  few 
years  since  committed.  It  is  in  Essex  Street,  near 
Newbury  Street,  with  a  garden  extending  in  the  rear 
towards  Brown  Street,  this  latter  street  being  parallel 
wjth  Essex  Street.* 

»  The  facts  connected  with  this  murder  are  derived  from  Hen 
Benjamin  Merrill's  Narrative. 

134 


A    HORRID    DISCOVERT.  135 

In  this  house  resided  a  very  wealthy,  retired  mer- 
chant of  Salem,  eighty-two  years  of  age,  whose 
name  was  Joseph  White,  Esq.  He  had  neither  wife 
nor  children  ;  his  family  consisted  of  himself,  his 
housekeeper,  Mrs.  Beckford,  who  was  also  his  niece, 
and  two  servants,  a  man  and  woman. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  April, 
1830,  his  servant  man  discovered  that  the  back*  win- 
dow of  the  east  parlor  was  open,  and  that  a  plank 
was  resting  against  it,  as  if  to  furnish  assistance  in 
entering  the  house.  His  suspicions  being  excited 
that  robbers  had  visited  them,  he  immediately  went 
to  the  parlor,  but  found  all  the  furniture  in  its  proper 
place,  and  no  evidence  of  any  person  having  been 
there.  After  informing  the  maid  servant  of  his  dis- 
coveries, he  visited  Mr.  White's  chamber.  As  he 
entered  the  back  door  of  the  old  gentleman's  cham 
ber,  he  noticed  that  the  other  door,  which  opened 
into  the  front  entry,  was  not  closed.  He  now  ap- 
proached the  bed,  and  there  beheld  a  sight  which 
explained  all  the  previous  discoveries.  The  bed- 
clothes were  drenched  with  blood,  and  Mr.  White 
was  dead.  The  servant  was  horror  stricken  ;  he  and 
the  maid  servant  were  the  only  other  persons  in  the 
house.  Mrs.  Beckford  was  on  a  visit  to  her  daugh- 
ter's at  Wenham.  The  alarm  was  instantly  given. 
A  crowd  collected  ;  the  coroner  and  physicians  were 
sent  for,  who,  upon  examination,  found  thirteen  deep 


136  GREAT    EXCITEMENT. 

stabs  on  the  body,  made  by  some  sharp  instrument, 
and  a  heavy  blow  on  the  left  temple  ;  although  the 
skin  was  not  broken,  yet  the  skull  was  fractured. 
Gold  coin  and  silver,  to  a  considerable  amount,  were 
in  his  chamber,  yet  none  of  it  was  taken.  With 
the  exception  of  the  bed,  the  room  presented  its 
usual  appearance.  Nothing  was  missed  from  the 
house,  although  it  contained  much  silver  plate,  which 
might  have  been  stolen,  if  plunder  had  been  the 
object  of  the  assassin. 

This  deliberate,  dreadful  tragedy,  committed,  as  it 
was,  upon  a  well-known,  respectable  citizen,  in  a 
densely-settled  part  of  the  town,  produced  a  deep 
and  wide-spread  excitement.  So  apparently  motive- 
less was  the  deed,  that  all  felt  exposed  to  similar 
danger.  Neglected  windows  and  doors  were  made 
more  secure  throughout  the  town.  Watch  dogs 
were  obtained,  and  firearms  were  bought  to  increase 
the  safety  of  the  people.  No  one  felt  secure.  Who 
was  the  criminal,  or  for  what  purpose  the  horrid 
deed  had  been  committed,  no  one  knew.  The  ex- 
citement was  the  more  intense  from  the  impenetrable 
mystery  which  enshrouded  the  whole  subject.  In 
addition  to  large  rewards  being  offered  by  the  heirs 
of  Mr.  White,  by  the  town,  and  by  the  governor  of 
the  state,  for  the  detection  of  the  murderer,  the  citi- 
zens appointed  a  committee  of  vigilance,  twenty- 
seven  in  number,  who  were  to  employ  every  means 


ATTEMPTED    ROBBERY.  13? 

in   their  power  to   discover  the  perpetrator  of  this 
dreadful  crime. 

During  the  excitement  of  the  community  upon* 
the  subject,  it  was  published  in  the  newspapers,  that 
a  daring  attempt  at  highway  robbery  had  been 
made  on  Joseph  J.  Knapp,  Jr.,  and  John  Francis 
Knapp,  in  Wenham,  on  the  evening  of  the  27th 
of  April.  They  stated  before  the  committee  of 
investigation,  that  when  near  Wenham  Pond,  on 
their  way  to  Salem  in  a  chaise,  three  men  ap- 
proached them,  one  of  whom  stopped  the  horse  by 
seizing  the  bridle  ;  the  others  then  approached,  one 
on  each  side,  and  attempted  to  seize  a  trunk  which 
was  in  the  chaise.  The  Knapps  of  course  resisted. 
Frank  made  a  thrust  at  one  of  them  with  a  sword 
cane,  and  Joseph  struck  the  other  in  the  face  with 
the  but-end  of  the  whip.  This  decided  resistance 
compelled  them  to  retreat.  After  giving  a  loud 
whistle,  as  if  it  were  a  signal  to  their  accomplices, 
they  fled,  being  pursued  a  short  distance,  but  un- 
successfully, by  Frank  Knapp.  Their  size,  appear- 
ance, and  dress  were  described  with  considerable 
minuteness.  In  the  account  of  this  occurrence,  as 
stated  in  the  Salem  papers  at  the  time,  it  was  re- 
marked that  the  gentlemen  thus  attacked  were  "  well 
known,  and  no  one  questioned  their  respectability  or 
veracity."  This  event  increased  the  excitement. 
It  appeared  as  if  there  were  a  gang  of  robbers 


138  DISCLOSURES    OF     HATCH. 

prowling  about  in  the  community,  ready  to  plunder 
or  murder,  as  opportunity  offered.  For  a  number 
of  weeks  not  the  slightest  incident  occurred  which 
served  to  furnish  the  faintest  hope  of  discovering 
the  guilty  parties.  Finally,  the  committee  of  vigi- 
lance learned  that  a  prisoner  of  the  name  of  Hatch, 
confined  in  New  Bedford  jail,  could  make  dis- 
closures that  might  be  of  great  service  to  them.  He 
was  visited,  the  nature  of  his  disclosures  ascer- 
tained, and  they  were  regarded  as  so  important,  that 
when  the  grand  jury  met,  Hatch  was  brought  in 
chains  from  New  Bedford  to  give  his  testimony  be- 
fore them.  His  relation  was,  that  several  months 
before  the  murder  was  perpetrated,  he  had  fre- 
quently heard  Richard  Crowninshield,  Jr.,  of  Dan- 
vers,  say  that  he  intended  to  destroy  the  life  of  Mr. 
White.  Crowninshield  •  was  a  young  man  of  bad 
character  ;  he  is  described  as  "  of  dark  and  reserved 
deportment,  temperate  and  wicked,  daring  and  wary, 
subtle  and  obdurate,  of  great  adroitness,  boldness, 
and  self-command.  He  had  for  several  years  fre- 
quented the  haunts  of  vice  in  Salem,  and  though  he 
was  often  spoken  of  as  a  dangerous  man,  hi?  person 
was  known  to  few,  for  he  never  walked  the  streets 
by  daylight.  Among  his  few  associates  he  was  a 
leader  and  a  despot."  * 

*  Hon.  Benjamin  MerriJl. 


GRANT'S  LETTER.  139 

On  the  testimony  of  Hatch,  Richard  Crownin- 
shield,  Jr.,  was  arrested  on  the  2d  of  May,  and  com- 
mitted to  prison  to  await  his  trial.  As  the  evidence 
of  Hatch  did  not  seem  sufficient  tq  convict  Crown- 
inshield,  the  committee  of  vigilance  'continued  their 
efforts  to  discover  more  convincing  proofs.  George, 
the  brother  of  Richard,  was  also  arrested. 

On  the  15th  of  May,  Captain  Joseph  J.  Knapp,  a 
respectable  merchant  and  shipmaster  of  Salem,  and 
father  of  the  young  men  who  were  said  to  have 
been  attacked  by  robbers  in  Wenham,  received, 
through  the  mail,  the  following  letter  :  — 

Charles  Grant,  Jr.,  to  Joseph  J.  Knapp. 

"  BELFAST,  May  12,  1830. 

"  DEAR  SIR  :  I  have  taken  the  pen  at  this  time  to 
address  an  utter  stranger,  and,  strange  as  it  may 
seem  to  you,  it  is  for  the  purpose  of  requesting  the 
loan  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  for  which  I 
can  give  you  no  security  but  my  word,  and  in  this 
case  consider  this  to  be  sufficient.  My  call  for 
money  at  this  time  is  pressing,  or  I  would  not 
trouble  you  ;  but  with  that  sum,  I  have  the  pros- 
pect of  turning  it  to  so  much  advantage,  as  to  be 
able  to  refund  it,  with  interest,  in  the  course  of  six 
months.  At  all  events,  I  think  it  will  be  for  your 
interest  to  comply  with  my  request,  and  that  imme- 
diately —  that  is,  not  put  off  any  longer  than  you 
10 


140  GRANT'S  LETTER. 

receive  this.  Then  sit  down  and  enclose  me  the 
money  with  as  much  despatch  as  possible,  for  your 
own  interest.  This,  sir,  is  my  advice  ;  and  if  you, 
do  not  comply  with  it,  the  short  period  between  now 
and  November  will  convince  you  that  you  have  de- 
nied a  request,  the  granting  of  which  will  never  in- 
jure you,  the  refusal  of  which  will  ruin  you.  Are 
you  surprised  at  this  assertion  ?  Rest  assured  that  I 
make  it,  reserving  to  myself  the  reasons,  and  a  series 
of  facts  which  are  founded  on  such  a  bottom  which 
will  bid  defiance  to  property  or  quality.  It  is  use- 
less for  me  to  enter  into  a  discussion  of  facts  which 
must  inevitably  harrow  up  your  soul.  No,  I  will 
merely  tell  you  that  I  am  acquainted  with  your 
brother  Franklin,  and  also  the  business  that  he  was 
transacting  for  you  on  the  2d  of  April  last;  and 
that  1  think  that  you  was  very  extravagant  in  giving 
one  thousand  dollars  to  the  person  that  would  exe- 
cute the  business  for  you.  But  you  know  best  about 
that.  -You  see  that  such  things  will  leak  out.  To 
conclude,  sir,  I  will  inform  you  that  there  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  my  acquaintance  in  Salem,  that  will  ob- 
serve that  you  do  not  leave  town  before  the  first  of 
June,  giving  you  sufficient  time  between  now  and 
then  to  comply  with  my  request ;  and  if  I  do  not 
receive  a  line  from  you,  together  with  the  above 
sum,  before  the  22d  of  this  month,  I  shall  wait  upon 
you  with  an  assistant.  I  have  said  enough  to  con- 


KNAPP'S    ADVICE.  141 

vince  you  of  my  knowledge,  and  merely  inform  you 
that  you  can,  when  you  answer,  be  as  brief  as  pos- 
sible. Direct  yours  to 

"  CHARLES  GRANT,  Jr.,  of  Prospect, 

"  Maine." 

This  remarkable  epistle  was  entirely  unintelligible 
to  Captain  Knapp.  He  was  acquainted  with  no 
Charles  Grant,  Jr. ;  neither  did  he  know  a  single 
person  in  the  town  of  Belfast,  Maine.  It  seemed 
to  be  a  letter  to  obtain  "  hush  money  "  from  him, 
with  reference  to  some  crime  he  had  committed, 
with  which  the  writer  was  acquainted.  As  Mr. 
Knapp  had  been  guilty  of  no  misdemeanor,  neither 
was  he  willing  to  have  money  extorted  from  him  by 
vague  and  mysterious  threats.  As,  however,,  the 
letter  appeared  to  be  serious,  and  not  intended  as  a 
joke,  Captain  Knapp  consulted  his  son,  Nathaniel 
Phippen  Knapp,  a  young  lawyer,  to  see  if  he  coukl 
explain  it.  To  him  it  was  as  inexplicable  as  fo  his 
father.  They  then  went  over  to  Wenham,  and 
showed  the  letter  to  Joseph  J.  Knapp,  Jr.,  and  John 
Francis  Knapp,  two  other  sons  of  the  captain,  who 
were  then  residing  with  Mrs.  Beckford,  to  whom  we 
have  already  referred  as  the  niece  and  housekeeper 
of  the  murdered  Mr.  White.  J.  J.  Knapp,  Jr.,  read 
the  letter,  said  it  contained  a  lot  of  trash,  and  ad- 
vised them  to  hand  it  to  the  committee  of  vigilance. 


142  THE    SECOND    LETTER. 

tt  will  be  found  in  the  sequel  that  this  was  a  very 
important  letter,  and  J.  J.  Knapp,  Jr.,  ought  to  have 
known  this.  It  is  perfectly  amazing  that  he  should 
have  advised  their  placing  it  at  the  disposal  of  the 
committee.  Still  this  was  done,  and  the  committee 
of  vigilance  obtained  possession  of  the  letter. 

The  next  day  the  committee  of  vigilance  received 
the  following :  — 

"  GENTLEMEN  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  VIGILANCE  : 
Hearing  that  you  have  taken  up  four  young  men, 
on  suspicion  of  being  concerned  in  the  murder  of 
Mr.  White,  I  think  it  time  to  inform  you  that  Ste- 
phen White  came  to  me  one  night,  and  told  me,  if 
I  would  remove  the  old  gentleman,  he  would  give 
me  five  thousand  dollars.  He  said  he  was  afraid  he 
would  alter  his  will  if  he  lived  any  longer.  I  told 
him  I  would  do  it,  but  I  was  afraid  to  go  into  the 
house.  He  said  he  would  go  in  with  me  ;  that  he 
would  try  to  get  into  the  house  in  the  evening,  and 
open  the  window  ;  would  then  go  home  and  go  to 
bed,  and  meet  me  again  about  eleven.  I  found  him, 
and  we  both  went  into  his  chamber.  I  struck  him 
on  his  head  with  a  heavy  piece  of  lead,  and  then 
stabbed  him  with  a  dirk ;  he  made  the  finishing 
strokes  with  another.  He  promised  to  send  me  the 
money  next  evening,  and  has  not  sent  it  yet,  which 
is  the  reason  I  mention  this. 

''Yours,  &c.,  GRANT." 


ARREST    OF     PALMER.  143 

This  was  directed  to   the    Hon.  Gideon  Barstow, 

«• 

Salem.  At  the  same  lime  Hon.  Stephen  White 
received  the  following,  directed  to  him  through  the 
post  office  at  Salem  :  — 

"LisNN,  May  12,  1830. 

"Mr.  White  will  send  the  five  thousand  dollars, 
or  a  part  of  it,  before  to-morrow  night,  or  suffer  the 
painful  consequences.  N.  CLAXTON,  4th." 

The  murdered  gentleman  was  uncle  to  this  Mr. 
White,  and  had  bequeathed  to  him  the  largest  part 
of  his  property. 

Both  of  these  letters  were  put  into  the  Salem 
post  office  on  Sunday  evening,  May  16th. 

After  mature  deliberation,  the  committee  of  vigi- 
lance came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  letter  signed 
"  Charles  Grant,  Jr.,"  might,  if  followed  up,  result 
in  important  disclosures.  They  therefore  sent  a 
judicious  messenger  to  Prospect,  in  Maine.  t  This 
messenger  visited  the  postmaster  there,  confidentially 
communicated  to  him  his  business,  and  then  sent 
for  an  officer.  All  things  being  ready,  he  deposited 
a  letter  directed  to  Charles  Grant,  Jr.,  in  the  post 
office,  and  then  remained  there,  waiting  for  Grant 
to  call  for  it.  It  was  not  long  before  a  man  .came 
and  asked  for  Grant's  letter,  when  the  officer  stepped 
forward  and  arrested  him.  Upon  examination,  it 
appeared  that  his  real  name  was  Palmer,  and  that 


144  THE    PLOT    KEVEALED. 

he  resided  in  the  neighboring  town  of  Belfast.  Al- 
though he  was  a  young  man  of  genteel  appearance, 
his  character  was  bad.  He  had  served  out  a  term 
in  the  state's  prison  of  Maine.  When  informed  of 
the  reason  of  his  arrest,  and  of  the  suspicious  char- 
acter of  his  letter  to  Knapp,  he  saw  that  he  might 
justly  be  suspected  of  being  accessory  to  the  mur- 
der, and  therefore,  to  clear  himself,  he  revealed  all 
that  he  knew  of  the  affair.  He  stated  that  he  had 
been  a  companion  of  R.  Crowninshield,  Jr.,  and 
George  Crowninshield  ;  that  he  had  spent  a  portion 
of  the  winter  with  them  in  Danvers  and  Salem,  un- 
der the  assumed  name  of  Carr  —  part  of  this  time 
he  had  been  concealed  in  their  father's  house  in 
Danvers.  He  further  stated  that,  on  the  2d  of  April, 
he  saw,  from  the  windows  of  the  house,  Frank 
Knapp,  and  a  young  man  named  Allen,  ride  up  to 
the  house ;  that  George  and  Frank  walked  away 
together,  and  Richard  and  Allen  together.  When 
they  returned,  George  told  Richard  that  Frank 
wished  them  to  kill  Mr.  White,  and  that  J.  J. 
Knapp,  Jr.,  would  pay  one  thousand  dollars  for  the 
job.  He  also  said  that  various  methods  of  execut- 
ing the  murder  were  proposed,  and  that  they  want- 
ed him. to  be  concerned  in  it,  but  that  he  declined. 
George  said  that  the  housekeeper  would  be  absent 
at  the  time ;  that  the  design  of  J.  J.  Knapp,  Jr.,  in 
projecting  the  murder,  was  to  destroy  Mr.  White's 


KNAPP'S    CONFESSION.  145 

will,  because  it  gave  the  largest  amount  of  the  projv 
erty  to  Stephen  White ;  that  the  will  was  first  to  be 
destroyed  by  J.  J.  Rnapp,  Jr.,  and  this  he  could  do 
by  obtaining  from  the  housekeeper  the  key  of  an 
iron  chest  in  which  it  was  kept.  He  also  stated, 
that  Frank  Knapp  called  again  the  same  day,  in  a 
chaise,  and  rode  off  again  with  Richard  Crownin- 
shield,  and  that  he,  Palmer,  spent  the  night,  on 
which  the  murder  was  committed,  at  the  Halfway 
House,  in  Lynn. 

The  important  information  communicated  by 
Palmer  was  at  once  transmitted  to  the  committee 
of  vigilance,  and  resulted  in  the  apprehension  of 
Joseph  J.  Rnapp,  Jr.,  and  John  Francis  Knapp, 
both  of  whom  were  young  shipmasters,  and  of  re- 
spectable connections.  On  the  third  day  of  their 
imprisonment,  Joseph  J.  Knapp,  Jr.,  made  a  full 
confession,  and  acknowledged  that  he  originated  the 
plot  for  the  murder.  He  had  married  the  daughter 
of  Mrs.  Beckford,  the  housekeeper,  and  knew  that 
by  his  will  Mr.  White  had  bequeathed  to  Mrs.  Beck- 
ford  a  legacy  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars ;  but,  being- 
informed  that  if  Mr.  White  died  without  leaving  a 
will,  Mrs.  B.'s  portion  would  be  nearly  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  he  projected  the  plan  of  destroy- 
ing Mr.  White's  will,  and  then,  before  he  could  dis- 
cover the  loss  and  make  another,  to  put  the  old 
man  himself  to  death.  He  revealed  his  plan  to  his 


146  THE    PREPARATION. 

brother,  and  Frank  agreed  to  find  some  one  to  act 
the  assassin.  After  this  Frank  opened  the  matter  to 
Richard  Crovvninshield,  Jr.,  who  said  he  would 
commit  the  murder  for  a  thousand  dollars.  Joseph 
agreed  to  pay  him  that  amount,  and,  as  he  had  ac- 
cess to  the  house  at  all  hours,  it  was  arranged  that 
he  should  unfasten  the  back  window,  so  as  to  give 
Richard  easy  entrance  to  the  premises. 

He  also  confessed  that,  four  days  before  the  mur- 
der, he  stole  the  will  from  the  iron  chest,  took  it  to 
Wenham  in  his  chaise  box,  where  he  had  covered  it 
with .  hay,  kept  it  till  after  the  murder,  and  then 
burned  it.  After  he  had  abstracted  the  will,  he  in- 
formed Crovvninshield  that  all  was  ready.  On  the 
evening  of  the  same  day  he  met  Crowninshield  in 
the  centre  of  Salem  Common.  Crowninshield  had 
with  him  a  bludgeon  and  a  dagger,  with  which  he 
intended  to  commit  the  deed.  Knapp Basked  him 
if  he  intended  to  do  it  that  night.  He  replied,  he 
thought  not ;  he  did  not  feel  like  it.  It  being  as- 
certained that  on  Sunday,  the  4th  of  April,  Mr. 
White  had  gone  to  take  tea  with  a  relative  in  Chest- 
nut Street,  Crowninshield  intended  to  assassinate 
lym  with  a  dirk  on  his  way  home,  but  very  fortu- 
nately Mr.  White  returned  home  before  dark.  Be- 
ing disappointed  at  this  time,  they  next  arranged  for 
the  tragedy  on  the  6th  of  April.  Rnapp  was  by 
some  means  to  induce  Mrs.  Beckford  to  spend  the 


THE    MURDER.  147 

night  with  her  daughter  at  Wenham.  This  being 
accomplished,  Crowninshield  and  Frank  Knapp  met 
about  ten  o'clock  on  the  appointed  evening,  in 
Brown  Street,  in  the  rear  of  Mr.  White's  garden, 
where  they  could  observe  the  movements  in  the 
house,  and  see  at  what  time  Mr.  White  and  his  two 
servants  went  to  bed.  Crowninshield  requested 
Frank  Knapp  to  leave  him  and  go  home.  Frank 
did  so,  but  shortly  after  returned  to  the  same  spot. 
In  the  mean  time,  however,  Crowninshield  walked 
down  Brown  Street,  through  Nevvbury  Street,  into 
Essex  Street,  on  which  the  house  fronts,  entered  a 
gate,  and  walked  round  to  the  back  part  of  the 
house.  He  there  found  a  plank,  which  he  placed 
against  the  house ;  he  then  climbed  to  a  window, 
raised  it,  entered  the  house,  ascended  the  stairs, 
noiselessly  opened  the  door  of  Mr.  White's  sleep- 
ing chamber,  -  cautiously  approached  the  bedside, 
and  saw  that  the  old  gentleman  was  sound  asleep. 
He  now  raised  a  heavy  bludgeon,  which  he  had  car- 
ried with  him  for  the  purpose,,  and  inflicted  a  mor- 
tal blow.  To  be  certain  of  accomplishing  his  fiend- 
ish design,  he  gave  the  body  of  the  old  man  many 
stabs  with  a  sharp  dirk  or  poniard,  and  then  delib-' 
srately  felt  of  his  pulse,  to  see  that  it  had  ceased  to 
beat !  The  dreadful  deed  being  accomplished,  he 
retired  from  the  chamber,  left  the  house,  burred 
back  into  Brown  Street,  where  he  met  Frank, 


148  THE    WAGES    OF    CRIME. 

who  was  there  waiting  to  learn  the  particulars  of  the 
deed.  Crowninshield  ran  down  Howard  Street,  con- 
cealed the  club  under  the  steps  of  the  Orthodox 
Church,  and  then  went  home  to  Danvers.  Joseph 
also  confessed  that  the  story  of  the  attack  upon 
himself  and  brother,  on  the  27th  of  April,  in  Wen- 
ham,  was  entirely  false  —  it  was  originated  by  them- 
selves. He  also  confessed  that  he  was  the  author 
of  the  two  mysterious  letters,  signed  "  Grant,"  and 
«  N.  Claxton,  4th." 

Not  long  after  the  murder,  Crowninshield,  in 
company  with  Frank,  went  over  to  Wenham  to  ob- 
tain the  one  thousand  dollars  which  were  to  be  the 
wages  of  his  iniquity.  He  obtained,  however,  at 
that  time,  only  one  hundred  five  franc  pieces. 
Crowninshield  gave  a  particular  account  of  all  the 
circumstances  connected  with  his  commission  of  the 
crime,  told  where  he  concealed  the  bludgeon,  and 
expressed  his  sorrow  that  Joseph  Knapp  had  not 
obtained  the  right  will  —  that  if  he  had  known 
there  was  another,  he  would  have  gotten  it.  Joseph 
sent  Frank  to  find  the  club,  and  in  some  way  to 
destroy  it ;  but  he  was  unsuccessful  in  discovering 
where  it  was.  When  Joseph,  however,  made  his 
confession,  he  gave  particular  information  of  its 
place  of  concealment,  and  there  it  was  found.  It 
was  a  heavy  hickory  bludgeon,  nearly  two  feet  long, 
with  a  large,  egg-shaped  head.  This  head  had  been 


THE    ASSASblN    IN    PRISON.  149 

hollowed  out,  and  then  filled  with  lead.  Its  surface 
•was  smooth,  and  the  handle  well  adapted  for  a  firm 
grasp.  Crowninshield  stated  that  he  turned  it  in  a 
lathe. 

After  Crowninshield's  arrest  and  imprisonment, 
he  manifested  great  indifference  —  a  kind  of  stoical 
composure  ;  but  when  he  was  informed  of  Knapp's 
arrest,  his  knees  smote  together,  the  sweat  stood  in 
large  drops  upon  his  brow,  and  he  was  so  far  over- 
come that  he  fell  back  upon  his  bunk. 

When  Palmer,  alias  Charles  Grant,  Jr.,  waa 
brought  to  Salem  jail,  Crowninshield  saw  him  as 
he  left  the  carriage  and  was  led  by  the  officers  into 
the  prison.  Palmer  happened  to  be  placed  in  a  cell 
directly  under  the  one  which  was  occupied  by 
Crowninshield.  One  day,  when  several  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  committee  of  vigilance  were  in  Palmer's 
cell,  conversing  with  him,  their  attention  was  arrest- 
ed by  a  loud  whistle  overhead.  Presently  a  voice 
called,  "  Palmer  !  Palmer  !  "  Soon  a  slip  of  paper 
and  a  pie».e  of  pencil  were  seen  dangling  in  the  air 
over  their  heads,  and  gradually  descending  lower 
and  lower.  When  they  came  within  reach,  they 
were  received  by  the  committee.  Upon  examining 
the  paper,  it  was  found  to  contain  two  lines  of  poe- 
'try,  in  order  that,  if  Palmer  was  really  there,  he 
should  signify  it  by  writing  two  more  lines,  and 
make  the  verse  complete.  Palmer  shrunk  a  way  in** 


150  THE    SUICIDE    AND    TRIAL. 

the  corner  of  his  cell,  and  was  afterwards  trans- 
ferred to  another  part  of  the  prison.  He  stood  in 
great  fear  of  Crovvninshield. 

Upon  information  received  from  Palmer,  Crown- 
inshield's  barn  was  searched  on  the  12th  of  June, 
and  a  quantity  of  stolen  goods  was  found  concealed 
there.  Crowninshield,  finding  that  the  evidences  of 
his  guilt  were  clustering  thickly  around  him,  and 
being  determined,  as  he  had  frequently  said,  not  to 
suffer  a  public,  ignominious  punishment,  committed 
suicide  by  hanging  himself  with  a  handkerchief  to 
the  bars  of  his  cell. 

The  trial  of  the  Knapps  and  of  George  Crovvn- 
inshield was  commenced  in  the  Supreme  Court,  at 
Salem,  on  the  20th  of  July,  a  special  term  of  the 
court  having  been  held  for  that  purpose.  It  con- 
tinued, with  a  few  days'  recess,  till  the  20th  of  Au- 
gust. John  Francis  Knapp  was  indicted  as  princi- 
pal, the  other  two  as  accessories.  Selman  and  Chase, 
who  had  been  arrested  and  retained  in  prison,  on 
suspicion  of  being  concerned  in  the  murder,  were 
discharged. 

John  Francis  Rnapp  was  tried  first.  The  law 
required  that  the  principal  criminal,  in  a  case  of 
murder,  must  first  be  found  guilty  before  any  of  the 
accessories  could  be  put  upon  trial.  His  counsel" 
were  Messrs.  Franklin  Dexter  and  William  H.  Gar 
diner,  gentlemen  of  distinguished  reputation  in  their 
profession. 


THE    CONVICTIONS.  151 

When  Joseph  J.  Knapp,  Jr.,  —  who,  upon  the 
promise  of  favor  from  the  government,  had  made  a 
full  confession  of  the  whole  plot  and  of  the  manner 
of  its  execution,  —  was  called  upon  the  stand,  he 
refused  to  testify.  He  would  make  ,uo  acknowledg- 
ments before  the  court  and  jury.  The  government, 
therefore,  withdrew  its  pledge  of  favor,  and  he  was 
left  to  the  regular  course  of  law,  after  giving,  as  he 
had  done  by  his  confession,  a  clew  to  sufficient 
evidence  for  the  conviction  of  himself  and  his 
brother. 

The  trials  proceeded.  Both  the  Knapps  were 
convicted.  George  Crowninshield  proved  that  he 
was  somewhere  else  at  the  time  of  the  murder,  and 
so  was  cleared. 

Mr.  Webster  had  been  requested  by  the  officers 
of  government  to  assist  them  in  conducting  the 
case. 

After  the  evidence  was  all  in,  and  Mr.  Franklin 
DextBr  had  pleaded  in  defence  of  John  F.  Rnapp, 
Mr.  Webster  arose,  and  addressed  the  jury  in  be- 
half of  the  government.  In  the  early  part  of  his 
plea  he  gave  utterance  to  the  following  thrilling  de- 
scription of  the  manner  in  which  the  deed  was  com- 
mitted. As  we  read  it,  we  can  almost  see  the 
assassin  engaged  in  his  work  of  death.  His  anal- 
ysis of  the  operations  of  conscience  is  also  pow- 
erful. 


152  AN    ASTOUNDING    CASE. 

"  Gentlemen,  it  is  a  most  extraordinary  case  ;  in 
some  respects  it  has  hardly  a  precedent  any  where, 
certainly  none  in  our  New  England  history.  This 
bloody  drama  exhibited  no  suddenly  excited,  ungov- 
ernable rage.  The  actors  in  it  were  not  surprised  by 
any  lion-like  temptation  springing  upon  their  virtue, 
and  overcoming  it,  before  resistance  could  begin. 
Nor  did  they  do  the  deed  to  glut  savage  vengeance,  or 
satiate  long-settled  and  deadly  hate.  It  was  a  cool, 
calculating,  money-making  murder.  It  was  all 
« hire  and  salary,  not  revenge.'  It  was  the  weigh- 
ing of  money  against  life ;  the  counting  out  of  so 
many  pieces  of  silver  against  so  many  ounces  of 
blood. 

"  An  aged  man,  without  an  enemy  in  the  world, 
in  his  own  house,  in  his  own  bed,  is  made  the  victim 
of  a  butcherly  murder,  for  mere  pay.  Truly  herb 
is  a  new  lesson  for  painters  and  poets.  Whoevev 
shall  hereafter  draw  the  portrait  of  murder,  if  he 
will  show  it  as  it  has  been  exhibited,  where  such 
example  was  last  to  have  been  looked  for,  —  in  the 
very  bosom  of  our  New  England  society,  —  let  him 
not  give  it  the  -grim  visage  of  Moloch,  the  brow 
knitted  by  revenge,  the  face  black  with  settled  hate, 
and  the  blood-shot  eye  emitting  livid  fires  of  malice : 
let  him  draw,  rather,  a  decorous,  smoothfaced,  blood- 
less demon  ;  a  picture  in  repose,  rather  than  in  ac- 
tion ;  not  so  much  an  example  of  human  nature  in  its 


THRILLING    DESCRIPTION.  153 

depravity,  and  in  its  paroxysms  of  crime,  as  an  in- 
fernal being,  a  fiend,  in  the  ordinary  display  and  de- 
velopment of  his  character. 

"  The  deed  was  executed  with  a  degree  of  self- 
possession  and  steadiness  equal  to  the  wickedness 
with  which  it  was  planned.  The  circumstances  now 
clearly  in  evidence  spread  out  the  whole  scene  before 
us.  Deep  sleep  had  fallen  on  the  destined  victim 
and  on  all  beneath  his  roof.  A  healthful  old  man,  to 
whom  sleep  was  sweet,  the  first  sound  slumbers  of 
the  night  held  him  in  their  soft,  but  strong  embrace  ; 
the  assassin  enters,  through  the  window  already  pre- 
pared, into  an  unoccupied  apartment  ;  with  noiseless 
foot  he  paces  the  lonely  hall,  half  lighted  by  the 
moon  ;  he  winds  up  the  ascent  of  the  stairs,  and 
reaches  the  door  of  the  chamber  ;  of  this  he  moves 
the  lock,  by  soft  and  continued  pressure,  till  it  turns 
on  its  hinges  without  noise  ;  and  he  enters  and  be- 
holds his  victim  before  him  ;  the  room  is  uncom- 
monly open  to  the  admission  of  light ;  the  face  of 
the  innocent  sleeper  is  turned  from  the  murderer, 
and  the  beams  of  the  moon,  resting  on  the  gray 
locks  of  his  aged  te?nple,  show  him  -where  to  strike , 
the  fatal  blow  is  given,  and  the  victim  passes,  with- 
out a  struggle  or  a  motion,  from  the  repose  of  sleep 
to  the  repose  of  death. 

"  It  is  the  assassin's  purpose  to  make  sure  work, 
and  he  plies  the  dagger,  though  it  is  obvious  that 


154  A    DREADFUL    MISTAKE. 

life  has  been  destroyed  by  the  blow  of  the  bludgeon  ; 
he  even  raises  the  aged  arm,  that  he  may  not  fail  in 
his  aim  at  the  heart,  and  replaces  it  again  over  the 
wounds  of  the  poniard.  To  finish  the  picture,  he 
explores  the  wrist  for  the  pulse ;  he  feels  for  it,  and 
ascertains  that  it  beats  .  no  longer :  it  is  accom- 
plished ;  the  deed  is  done  ;  he  retreats,  retraces  his 
steps  to  the  window,  passes  out  through  it  as  he 
came  in,  and  escapes.  He  has  done  the  murder ; 
no  eye  has  seen  him,  no  ear  has  heard  him  ;  the 
secret  is  his  own,  and  it  is  safe. 

"  All,  gentlemen,  that  was  a  dreadful  mistake ; 
such  a  secret  can  be  safe  nowhere.  The  whole 
creation  of  God  has  neither  nook  nor  corner  where 
the  guilty  can  bestow  it,  and  say  it  is  safe.  Not  to 
speak  of  that  eye  which  pierces  through  all  dis- 
guises, and  beholds  every  thing  as  in  the  splendor  of 
noon,  such  secrets  of  guilt  are  never  safe  from  de- 
tection, even  by  men. 

"True  it  is,  generally  speaking,  that  'murder 
will  out ; '  true  it  is,  that  Providence  hath  so  or- 
dained, and  doth  so  govern  things,  that  those  who 
break  the  great  law  of  Heaven  by  shedding  man's 
blood  seldom  succeed  in  'avoiding  discovery ;  es- 
pecially in  a  case  exciting  so  much  attention  as  this, 
discovery  must  come,  and  will  come,  sooner  or  later. 
A  thousand  eyes  turn  at  once  to  explore  every  man, 
every  thing,  every  circumstance*  connected  with  the 


EFFECT    OF    CONSCIENCE.  155 

time  and  place  ;  a  thousand  ears  catch  every  whis- 
per ;  a  thousand  excited  minds  intensely  dwell  on 
the  scene,  shedding  all  their  light,  and  ready  to  kin- 
dle the  slightest  circumstance  into  a  blaze  of  dis- 
covery. Meantime,  the  guilty  soul  cannot  keep  its 
own  secret ;  it  is  false  to  itself;  or,  rather,  it  feels 
an  irresistible  impulse  of  conscience  to  be  true  to  it- 
self; it  labors  under  its  guilty  possession,  and  knows 
not  what  to  do  with  it.  The  human  heart  was  not 
made  for  the  residence  of  such  an  inhabitant ;  it 
finds  itself  preyed  on  by  a  torment  which  it  dares 
not  to  acknowledge  to  God  or  man.  A  vulture  is 
devouring  it,  and  it  can  ask  no  sympathy  or  assist- 
ance either  from  heaven  or  earth.  The  secret 
which  the  murderer  possesses  soon  comes  to  pos- 
sess him  ;  and  like  the  evil  spirits  of  which  we  read, 
it  overcomes  him,  and  leads  him  whithersoever^  it 
will;  he  feels  it  beating  at  his  heart,  rising  to  his 
throat,  and  demanding  disclosure ;  he  thinks  the 
whole  world  sees  it  in  his  face,  reads  it  in  his  eyes, 
and  almost  hears  its  workings  in  the  very  silence  of 
his  thoughts  ;  it  has  become  his  master  ;  it  betrays 
his  discretion,  it  breaks  down  his  courage,  it  conquers 
his  prudence.  When  suspicions  from  without  begin 
to  embarrass  him,  and  the  net  of  circumstances  to 
entangle  him,  the  fatal  secret  struggles  with  still 
greater  violence  to  burst  forth  ;  it  must  be  con- 
fessed, it  will  be  confessed  *,  there  is  no  refuge 
11 


156  MR.  WEBSTER'S  PLEA. 

from  confession  but  suicide,  and  suicide  is  confes 
sion." 

As  a  specimen  of  Mr.  Webster's  directness,  clear- 
ness, and  logical  power,  when,  arguing  a  case  to  a 
jury,  we  give  the  following  extract  from  the  same 
plea.  The  counsel  for  the  defendant  had  spoken  of 
the  evidence  against  the  prisoner  as  "  circumstantial 
stuff."  Of  this  phrase  Mr.  Webster  makes  effective 
use ;  it  was  a  powerful  weapon  furnished  him  by  his 
adversary. 

"  And  now,  gentlemen,  in  examining  this  evidence, 
let  us  begin  at  the  beginning,  and  see  first  what  we 
know  independent  of  the  disputed  testimony.  This 
is  a  case  of  circumstantial  evidence  ;  and  these  cir- 
cumstances, we  think,  are  full  and  satisfactory. 
The  case  mainly  depends  upon  them,  and  it  is  com- 
mgn  that  offences  of  this  kind  must  be  proved  in 
this  way.  Midnight  assassins  take  no  witnesses ; 
the  evidence  of  the  facts  relied  on  has  been  some- 
what sneeringly  denominated  by  the  learned  counsel 
« circumstantial  stuff; '  but  it  is  not  such  stuff  as 
dreams  are  made  of.  Why  does  he  not  rend  this 
stuff?  Why  does  he  not  scatter  it  to  the  winds  ? 
He  dismisses  it  a  little  too  summarily.  It  shall 
be  my  business  to  examine  this  stuff,  and  try  its 
cohesion. 

"  The  letter  from  Palmer,  at  Belfast  —  is  that  no 
more  than  flimsy  stuff] 


"  CIRCUMSTANTIAL    STUFF.  157 

««  The  fabricated  letters  from  Kriapp  to  the  com- 
mittee, and  to  Mr.  White  —  are  they  nothing  but 
stuff? 

"  The  circumstance,  that  the  housekeeper  was 
away  at  the  time  the  murder  was  committed,  as  it 
was  agreed  she  should  be  —  is  that,  too,  a  useless 
piece  of  the  same  stuff? 

"  The  facts  that  the  key  of  the  chamber  door 
was  taken  out  and  secreted  ;  that  the  window  was 
unbarred  and  unbolted  —  are  these  to  be  so  slightly 
and  so  easily  disposed  of? 

"  It  is  necessary,  gentlemen,  to  settle  now,  at  the 
commencement,  the  great  question  of  a  conspiracy. 
If  there  was  none,  or  the  defendant  was  not  a  party, 
then  there  is  no  evidence  here  to  convict  him.  If 
there  was  a  conspiracy,  and  he  is  proved  to  have 
been  a  party,  then  these  two  facts  have  a  strong  bear- 
ing on  others,  and  all  the  great  points  of  inquiry. 

"  The  defendant's  counsel  take  no  distinct  ground, 
as  I  have  already  said,  on  this  point,  either  to  admit 
or  to  deny.  They  choose  to  confine  themselves  to 
a  hypothetical  mode  of  speech.  They  say,  suppos- 
ing there  was  a  conspiracy,  non  sequitur  that  the 
prisoner  is  guilty  as  principal.  Be  it  so.  But  still, 
if  there  was  a  conspiracy,  and  if  he  was  a  conspir- 
ator, and  helped  to  plan  the  murder,  this  may  shed 
much  light  on  the  evidence  which  goes  to  charge 
him  with  the  execution  of  that  plan. 


158  THE    CONSPIRACY. 

"We  mean  to  make  out  the  conspiracy,  and  tlmt 
the  defendant  was  a  party  to  it,  and  then  to  draw 
all  just  inferences  from  these  facts. 

"  Let  me  ask  your  attention,  then,  in  the  first 
place,  to  those  appearances,  on  the  morning  after 
the  murder,  which  have  a  tendency  to  show  that  it 
was  done  in  pursuance  of  a  preconcerted  plan  of 
operation.  What  are  they  1  A  man  was  found 
murdered  in  his  bed ;  no  stranger  had  done  the 
deed — no  one  unacquainted  with  the  house  had 
done  it ;  it  was  apparent  that  somebody  within  had 
opened,  and  that  somebody  without  had  entered  ; 
there  had  obviously  and  certainly  been  concert  and 
cooperation ;  the  inmates  of  the  house  were  not 
alarmed  when  the  murder  was  perpetrated ;  the  as- 
sassin had  entered  without  any  riot  or  any  vio- 
lence ;  he  bad  found  the-way  prepared  before  him. 
The  house  had  been  previously  opened ;  the  win- 
dow was  unbarred  from  within,  and  its  fastening  un- 
screwed ;  there  was  a  lock  on  the  door  of  the  cham- 
ber in  which  Mr.  White  slept,  but  the  key  was  gone  ; 
it  had  been  taken  away  and  secreted  ;  the  footsteps 
of  the  murderer  were  visible,  out  doors,  tending 
towards  the  window  ;  the  plank  by  which  he  entered 
the  window  still  remained ;  the  road  he  pursued  had 
been  thus  prepared  for  him.  The  victim  was  slain, 
and  the'murderer  had  escaped ;  every  thing  indicat- 
ed that  somebody  within  had  cooperated  with  some- 


DELIBERATE    PLAN.  159 

Body  without.  Every  thing  proclaimed  that  some  of 
the  inmates,  or  somebody  having  access  to  the  house, 
had  had  a  hand  in  the  murder.  On  the  face  of  the 
circumstances,  it  was  apparent,  therefore,  that  this 
was  a  premeditated,  concerted  murder  ;  that  there 
had  been  a  conspiracy  to  commit  it.  Who,  then, 
were  the  conspirators  1  If  not  found  out,  we  are 
still  groping  in  the  dark,  and  the  whole  tragedy  is 
still  a  mystery. 

"  If  the  Knapps  and  the  Crowninshields  were  not 
the  conspirators  in  this  murder,  then  there  is  a  whole 
set  of  conspirators  not  yet  discovered.  Because,  inde- 
pendent of  the  testimony  of  Palmer  and  Leighton, 
independent  of  all  disputed  evidence,  we  know,  from 
uncontroverted  facts,  that  this  murder  was,  and  must 
have  been,  the  result  of  concert  and  cooperation 
between  two  or  more.  We  know  it  was  not  done 
without  plan  and  deliberation  ;  we  see  that  whoever 
entered  the  house  to  strike  the  blow  was  favored 
and  aided  by  some  one  who  had  been  previously  in 
the  house,  without  suspicion,  and  who  had  prepared 
the  way.  This  is  concert,  this  is  cooperation,  this 
is  conspiracy.  If  the  Knapps  and  the  Crownin- 
shields, then,  were  not  the  conspirators,  who  were  ? 
Joseph  Knapp  had  a  motive  to  desire  the  death  of 
Mr.  White,  and  that  motive  has  been  shown.  He 
was  connected  by  marriage  with  the  family  of  Mr. 
White  ;  his  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Beck- 
ford,  who  was  the  only  child  of  a  sister  of  the  de- 


160  THE    WILL. 

ceased.  The  deceased  was  more  than  eighty  years' 
old,  and  had  no  children ;  his  only  heirs  were  neph- 
ews and  nieces.  He  was  supposed  to  be  possessed 
of  a  very  large  fortune,  which  would  have  descended, 
by  law,  to  his  several  nephews  and  nieces  in  equal 
shares  ;  or,  if  there  was  a  will,  then  according  to  the 
will.  But  as  he  had  but  two  branches  of  heirs,  the 
children  of  his  brother,  Henry  White,  and  of  Mrs. 
Beckford,  each  of  these  branches,  according  to  the 
common  idea,  would  have  shared  one  half  of  his 
property.  This  popular  idea  is  not  legally  correct  ; 
but  it  is  common,  and  very  probably  entertained  by 
the  parties.  According  to  this  idea,  Mrs.  Beckford, 
on  Mr.  White's  death  without  a  will,  would  have  been 
entitled  to  one  half  of  his  ample  fortune  ;  and  Joseph 
Knapp  had  married  one  of  her  three  children. 
There  was  a  will,  and  this  will  gave  the  bulk  of  the 
property  to  others  ;  and  we  learn  from  Palmer  that 
one  part  of  the  design  was  to  destroy  the  will  before 
the  murder  was  committed.  There  had  been  a  pre- 
vious will,  and  that  previous  will  was  known  or  be- 
lieved to  have  been  more  favorable  than  the  other  to 
the  Beckford  family,  'so  that  by  destroying  the  last 
will,  and  destroying  the  life  of  the  testator  at  the 
same  time,  either  the  first  and  more  favorable  will 
would  be  set  up,  or  the  deceased  would  have  no  will, 
which  would  be,  as  was  supposed,  still  more  favora- 
ble ;  but  the  conspirators  not  having  succeeded  in 
obtainirg  and  destroying  the  last  will,  though  they 


KEY    OF    THAT    LOCK.  161 

accomplished  the  miyder,  — that  will  being  found  in 
existence,  and  safe,  and  that  will  bequeathing  the 
mass  of  property  to  others,  —  it  seemed  at  the  time 
impossible  for  Joseph  Knapp,  as  for  any  one  else,  in- 
deed, but  the  principal  devisee,  to  have  any  motive 
which  should  lead  to  the  murder.  The  key  which 
unlocks  the  whole  mystery  is  the  knowledge  of  the 
intention  of  the  conspirators  to  steal  the  will.  This 
is  derived  from  Palmer,  and  it  explains  all ;  it  solves 
the  whole  marvel ;  it  shows  the  motive  which  actu- 
ated those  against  whom  there  is  much  evidence, 
but  who,  without  the  knowledge  of  this  intention, 
were  not  seen  to  have  had  a  motive.  This  intention 
is  proved,  as  I  have  said,  by  Palmer  ;  and  it  is  so 
congruous  with  all  the  rest  of  the  case,  it  agrees  so 
well  with  all  facts  and  circumstances,  that  no  man 
could  well  withhold  his  belief,  though  the  facts  were 
stated  by  a  still  less  credible  witness.  If  one  desi- 
rous of  opening  a  lock  turns  over  and  tries  a  bunch 
of  keys  till  he  finds  one  that  will  open  it,  he  natu- 
rally supposes  he  has  found  the  key  of  that  lock. 
So,  in  explaining  circumstances  of  evidence  which 
are  apparently  irreconcilable  or  unaccountable,  if  a 
fact  be  suggested,  which  at  once  accounts  for  all, 
and  reconciles  all,  by  whomsoever  it  may  be  stated, 
it  is  still  difficult  not  to  believe  that  such  fact  is  the 
true  fact  belonging  to  the  case.  In  this  respect 
Palmer's  testimony  is  singularly  confirmed.  If  it 


- 

162  GCILT    BETRAYS    ITSELF. 

were  false,  his  ingenuity  could  .not  furnish  us  such 
clear  exposition  of  strange-appearing  circumstances. 
Some  truth  not  before  known  can  alone  do  that." 

"The  acts  of  the  parties  themselves  furnish 
strong  presumption  of  their  guilt.  What  was  done 
on  the  receipt  of  the  letter  from  Maine  ?  This  let- 
ter was  signed  by  Charles  Grant,  Jr.,  a  person  not 
known  to  either  of  the  Knapps,  nor  was  it  known 
to  them  that  any  other  person  beside  the  Crownin- 
shields  knew  of  the  conspiracy.  This  letter,  by  the 
accidental  omission  of  the  word  Jr.,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  father,  when  intended  for  the  son  ;  the 
father  carried  it  to  Wenham,  where  both  the  sons 
were.  They  both  read  it.  Fix  your  eye  steadily  on 
this  part  of  the  circumstantial  stuff",  which  is  in  the 
case,  and  sec  what  can  be  made  of  it.  This  was 
shown  to  the  two  brothers  on  Saturday,  the  loth  of 
May  ;  neither  of  them  knew  Palmer,  and  if  they 
had  known  him,  they  could  not  know  him  to  have 
been  the  writer  of  this  letter.  It  was  mysterious  to 
them  how  any  one  at  Belfast  could  have  had  knowl- 
edge of  this  affair.  Their  conscious  guilt  prevented 
due  circumspection.  They  did  not  see  the  bearing 
of  its  publication.  They  advised  their  father  to 
carry  it  to  the  committee  of  vigilance,  and  it  was  so 
carried.  On  the  Sunday  following,  Joseph  began 
to  think  there  might  be  something  in  it.  Perhaps 
in  the  mean  time,  he  had  seen  one  of  the  Crownin 
shields.  He  was  apprehensive  that  they  might  be  sus 


* 

GREAT    FOLLX.  163 

pected  ;  he  was  anxious  to  turn  attention  from  their 
family.  What  course  did  lie  adopt  to  effect  this  1 
He  addressed  one  letter,  with  a  false  name,  to  ME. 
White,  and  another  to  the  committee,  and  to  com- 
plete the  climax  of  his  folly,  he  signed  the  letter 
addressed  to  the  committee  "  Grant,"  the  same  name 
as  that  which  was  signed  to  the  letter  received  from 
Belfast.  It  was  in  the  knowledge  of  the  committee 
that  no  person  but  the  Knapps  had  seen  this  letter 
from  Belfast,  and  that  no  other  person  knew  its 
signature  ;  it  must  have  been,  therefore,  irresistibly 
plain  to  them  that  one  of  the  Knapps  was  the  writer 
of  the  letter  received  by  the  committee,  charging  the 
murder  on  Mr.  White.  Add  to  this  the  fact  of  its 
having  been  dated  at  Lynn,  and  mailed  at  Salem 
four  days  after  it  was  dated,  and  who  could  doubt 
respecting  it  ?  Have  you  ever  read  or  known  of 
folly  equal  to  this  ?  Can  you  conceive  of  crime 
more  odious  and  abominable  1  Merely  to  explain  the 
apparent  mysteries  of  the  letter  from  Palmer,  they 
excite  the  basest  suspicions  against  a  man,  whom,  if 
they  were  innocent,  they  had  no  reason  to  believe 
guilty,  and  whom,  if  they  were  guilty,  they  most  cer- 
tainly knew  to  be  innocent.  Could  they  have  adopted 
a  more  direct  method  of  exposing  their  own  infamy  1 
The  letter  to  the  committee  has  intrinsic  marks  of 
a  knowledge  of  this  transaction.  It  tells  the  time  • 
and  the  manner  in  which  the  murder  was  committed. 


164  GUILT    AND    SUBTERFUGE. 

Every  line  speaks  the  writer's  condemnation.  In 
attempting  to  divert  attention  from  his  family,  and 
£o  charge  the  guilt  upon  another,  he  indelibly  fixes 
it  upon  himself. 

"Joseph  Knapp  requested  Allen  to  put  these  letters 
into  the  post  office,  because,  said  he,  "  I  wish  to  nip 
this  silly  affair  in  the  bud."  If  this  were  not  the 
order  of  an  overruling  Providence,  I  should  say 
that  it  was  the  silliest  piece  of  folly  that  was  ever 
practised.  Mark  the  destiny  of  crime  !  It  is  ever 
obliged  to  resort  to  such  subterfuges ;  it  trembles  in 
the  broad  light ;  it  betrays  itself  in  seeking  conceal- 
ment. He  alone  walks  safely  that  walks  uprightly. 
Who  for  a  moment  can  read  these  letters  and  doubt 
of  Joseph  Knapp 's  guilt  ?  The  constitution  of  na- 
ture is  made  to  inform  against  him.  There  is  no 
corner  dark  enough  to  conceal  him.  There  is  no 
turnpike  road  broad  enough  or  smooth  enough  for 
a  man  so  guilty  to  walk  in  without  stumbling.  Every 
step  proclaims  his  secret  to  every  passenger.  His 
own  acts  come  out  to  fix  his  guilt.  In  attempting  to 
charge  another  with  his  own  crime,  he  writes  his 
own  confession.  To  do  away  the  effect  of  Palmer's 
letter,  signed  '  Grant,'  he  writes  a  letter  himself,  and 
affixes  to  it  the  name  of  Grant.  He  writes  in  a 
disguised  hand.  But  how  could  it  happen  that  the 
same  Grant  should  be  in  Salem  that  was  at  Belfast  ? 
This  has  brought  the  whole  thing  out  Evidently 


IMPORTANCE    OF    THE    PLEA.  165 

he  did  it,  because  he  has  adopted  the  same  style. 
Evidently  he  did  it,  because  he  speaks  of  the  price 
of  blood,  and  of  other  circumstances  connected  with 
the  murder,  that  no  one  but  a  conspirator  could  have 
known." 

These  specimens  are  sufficient  to  show  that  the 
plea  of  Mr.  Webster,  on  that  occasion,  was  one  of 
great  power.  It  produced  a  thrilling  effect.  The 
prisoners  were  convicted,  and  it  cannot  be  doubted 
that  Mr.  Webster's  argument  contributed  in  no  small 
degree  to  secure  that  result.  The  excitement  on 
the  occasion  was  intense.  The  court  house  was 
crowded,  yet  the  stillness  of  the  tomb  reigned  there 
during  the  delivery  of  this  plea ;  for  it  was  believed 
that  life  or  death  was  depending  upon  the  words 
which  were  being  uttered. 

Before  leaving  this  trial,  in  which  Mr.  Webster 
occupied  so  important  a  part,  it  will  be  proper  to 
call  special  attention  to  a  few  of  the  more  extraor- 
dinary features  of  the  astounding  deed,  for  the  com- 
mission of  which  the  defendants  were  convicted  and 
executed. 

It  was  remarkable  that  the  evidence  which  first 
directed  public  attention  to  the  guilty  parties  should 
have  grown  out  of  casual  remarks  which  dropped 
from  one  of  the  criminals  some  months  before  the 
murder  was  committed,  which  remarks  were  revealed 
to  the  committee  of  vigilance  by  Hatch,  who  was 


166  REMARKABLE    INCIDENTS. 

himself  an  imprisoned  convict,  in  a  distant  part  of 
the  state,  at  the  time  of  the  perpetration  of  the 
bloody  deed,  and  who,  therefore,  must  have  been 
ignorant  of  all  the  circumstances  connected  with  it. 

Little  did  Crowninshield  imagine,  when  he  ex- 
pressed, in  the  hearing  of  Hatch,  his  determination 
to  put  Mr.  White  to  death,  that  he  was  furnishing 
evidence  which  would  lead  to  his  own  apprehension 
for  the  murder.  Yet  so  it  was.  And  herein  are 
we  furnished  with  an  illustration  of  the  truth,  that 
the  wicked  are  insnared  by  the  words  of  their 
mouth,  and  that,  in  the  providence  of  God,  a  crim- 
inal is  allowed  to  weave  a  net  for  his  own  entangle- 
ment, in  which,  after  the  commission  of  his  crime, 
he  is  effectually  caught. 

It  was  very  extraordinary  that  the  letter  signed 
"  Charles  Grant,  Jr.,"  from  Belfast,  Maine,  should 
have  reached  J.  J.  Knapp,  the  father,  instead  of  J. 
J.  Knapp,  Jr.,  the  son,  for  whom  it  was  intended. 
Still  more  extraordinary  was  it,  that  when  this  letter 
was  shown  to  J.  J.  Knapp,  Jr.,  instead  of  perceiving 
how  strongly  it  would  bear  against  him,  he  pretend- 
ed that  it  contained  merely  "  trash,"  and  advised 
his  father  to  hand  it  to  the  committee  of  vigilance, 
thereby  unwittingly  furnishing  them  with  evidence 
which  resulted  in  directing  their  attention  to  him, 
and  ultimately  in  revealing  the  whole  conspiracy. 

It  was  strange  that,  after  the  apprehension  of  the 


THE    CRIME    PREDICATED    ON    ERRORS.         167 

Knapps,  Joseph  should  make  a  confession  of  the 
whole  matter,  upon  the  pledge  of  favor  from  the 
government,  and  then,  after  furnishing  the  govern- 
ment with  a  solution  of  all  the  labyrinth  of  circum- 
stances connected  with  the  tragedy,  should  withdraw 
that  confession,  refuse  to  testify  upon  the  stand,  and 
be  willing  himself  to  go  to  trial.  It  is  believed  that 
if  he  had  adhered  to  his  confession,  his  brother  Frank 
would  not  have  been  convicted,  because  his  confes- 
sion stated  that,  on  the  night  of  the  murder,  Crown- 
inshield  told  Frank,  in  Brown  Street,  to  go  home ; 
that  he  went  home,  went  to  bed,  arid  then  got  up 
and  returned  to  Brown  Street,  to  learn  the  circum- 
stances of  the  deed.  If  this  was  believed,  then 
Frank  would  not  have  been  convicted  as  a  principal, 
because  it  would  have  appeared  that  he  was  not 
there  to  "  aid  and  abet  "  in  the  murder,  according 
to  the  legal  signification  of  those  terms.  Whilst 
Joseph,  being  state's  evidence,  would  not  have  been 
tried  at  all. 

It  was  extraordinary  that  the  murder  was  pro- 
jected under  the  influence  of  two  errors — one  of 
law  and  the  other  of  fact.  The  error  of  law  was, 
that  if  Mr.  White  died  without  a  will,  Mrs.  Beck- 
ford  would  inherit  one  half  of  his  estate,  whereas 
Joseph  Knapp  knew  that,  by  his  will,  he  had  left 
her  a  great  deal  less  than  one  half. 

The  error  iqfact  was,  that  when  the  will,  as  waa 


168  SNARES    OF    THE    WICKED. 

supposed,  was  taken  from  Mr.  White's  iron  chest,  it 
proved  to  be  the  wrong  will.  Mr.  White  had  made 
one  of  later  date.  So  that  the  specific  object  of  the 
murder  was  effectually  defeated. 

It  was  also  a  remarkable  development  of  the  hard- 
ening nature  of  human  depravity,  that,  on  the  night 
following  the  tragedy,  Kuapp  should  have  watched 
with  the  body  of  the  murdered  old  man,  and  at  the 
funeral  should  have  officiated  as  one  of  the  chief 
mourners,  even  following  him  to  the  grave  in  that 
capacity,  without,  by  the  slightest  word  or  act,  cre- 
ating the  least  suspicion  of  his  own  guilt. 

Let  the  young  be  admonished,  by  the  dreadful 
fate  of  these  offenders,  (one  of  whom  committed  sui- 
cide in  prison,  and  the  two  others  being  executed,) 
to  avoid  evil  associates.  They  cannot  mingle  with 
the  wicked  without  being  contaminated  by  them.  In 
.view  of  this  thrilling  tragedy,  how  significant  is  the 
language  of  Solomon  !  — 

"  My  son,  if  sinners  entice  thee,  consent  thou  not. 
If  they  say,  Come  with  us  ;  let  us  lay  wait  for  blood  ; 
let  us  lurk  privily  for  the  innocent  without  cause  ; 
let  us  swallow  them  up  alive,  as  the  grave,  and 
whole,  as  those  that  go  down  into  the  pit.  We 
shall  find  all  precious  substance  ;  we  shall  fill  our 
bouses  with  spoil.  Cast  in  thy  lot  among  us ;  let 
us  all  have  one  purse.  My  son,  walk  not  thou  in 
the  way  with  them  ;  refrain  thy  foot  /rom  their  path. 


WEBSTER    AND    MASON.  169 

For  their  feet  run  to  evil,  and  make  haste  to  shed 
blood.  Surely  in  vain  the  net  is  spread  in  the  sight 
of  any  bird.  And  they  lay  wait  for  their  own  blood; 
they  lurk  privily  for  their  own  lives.  So  are  the 
ways  of  every  one  that  is  greedy  of  gain  ;  which 
taketh  away  the  life  of  the  owners  thereof." 

Mr.  Webster  has  been  repeatedly  heard  to  say 
that  he  was  indebted  in  no  small  degree  to  Mr. 
Jeremiah  Mason  for  his  attainments  in  legal  science, 
and  his  skill  in  argument.  Mr.  Mason  was  a  most 
powerful  competitor  in  any  cause ;  hence,  when 
Webster  was  opposed  to  him,  as  was  often  the  case, 
he  was  compelled  to  make  a  careful  and  elaborate 
preparation  to  meet  his  opponent. 

Joel  Parker,  LL.  D.,  Royall  professor  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Cambridge,  in    his  interesting  address  be- 
fore  the  students  in  the  Law  School,  on  the  charac 
ter  of  Daniel  Webster  as  a  jurist,  says,  — 

"  Some  half  dozen  years  since,  in  a  company  of 
gentlemen,  Mr.  Webster  was  applied  to  for  his  opin- 
ion of  Mr.  Mason's  ability  as  a  lawyer.  Speaking 
deliberately,  and  in  a  manner  denoting  his  intention 
to  give  emphasis  to  what  he  uttered,  he  replied  that 
he  had  known,  as  a  young  man  knows  his  superiors 
in  age,  the  bar  of  a  former  generation,  —  all  the 
leading  men  in  it,  —  and  he  was  intimately  acquaint- 
ed with  all  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  present  bar 
of  the  United  States  ;  'iut  for  himselfj  he  had  rather 


170  TAIAL    OF    A    LEGISLATOR. 

meet,  if  it  could  be  combined,  all  the  talent  and 
learning  of  the  past  and  present  bar  of  the  United 
States,  than  Jeremiah  Mason,  single-handed  and 
alone.  The  man  who  had  Jeremiah  Mason  for  his 
counsel  was  sure  of  having  his  case  tried  as  well  as 
it  was  possible  for  human  ingenuity  and  learning  to 
try  it."  * 

In  a  beautiful  tribute  to  the  character  of  Mr. 
Mason,  at  a  bar  meeting  upon  the  occasion  of  his 
death,  Mr.  Webster  said,  "  I  am  bound  to  say,  that 
of  my  own  professional  discipline  and  attainments, 
whatever  they  may  be,  I  owe  much  to  that  close 
attention  to  the  discharge  of  my  duties  which  I  was 
compelled  to  pay  for  nine  successive  years,  from  day 
to  day,  by  Mr.  Mason's  efforts  and  arguments  at  the 
same  bar.  Fas  est  ab  hoste  doceri ;  and  I  must  have 
been  unintelligent  indeed  not  to  have  learned  some- 
thing from  the  constant  displays  of  that  power  which 
1  had  so  much  occasion  to  see  and  to  feel." 

It  would  appear,  however,  that  there  were 
"  blows  to  take,  as  well  as  blows  to  give,"  from  the 
time  of  the  earliest  meeting  of  Mr.  Mason  and  Mr. 
Webster  as  opposing  counsel.  In  another  note  to 
the  Life  of  Chief  Justice  Smith,  it  is  stated,  appar- 
ently on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Mason  himself,  that 
the  first  time  they  met  was  in  a  criminal  trial.  The 

*  P.  Harvey,  Esq. 


MASON    SURPRISED.  171 

defendant  was  indicted  for  counterfeiting.  Mr.  Ma- 
son was  in  the  defence,  and  Mr.  Webster,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  attorney  general,  was  applied  to  by  the 
solicitor  for  the  county  to  act  in  behalf  of  the  state. 
Mr.  Mason,  it  is  said,  had  heard  of  him  as  a  "  young 
man  of  remarkable  promise  ;  "  but  he  had  heard 
such  things  of  young  men  before,  and  prepared  him- 
self as  he  would  have  done  to  meet  the  attorney 
general.  But  he  soon  found  that  he  had  quite  a 
different  person  to  deal  with.  The  young  man  came 
down  upon  him  "  like  a  thunder  shower,"  and  Mr. 
Mason's  client  got  off,  as  he  thought,  more  on  ac- 
count of  the  political  feelings  of  the  jury,  than  from 
the  arguments  of  the  counsel.  Mr.  Mason  was  par- 
ticularly struck  with  the  high,  open,  and  manly 
ground  taken  by  Mr.  Webster,  who,  instead  of  avail- 
ing himself  of  any  technical  advantage,  or  pushing 
the  prisoner  hard,  confined  himself  to  the  main 
points  of  law  and  fact.  Mr.  Mason  did  not  know 
how  much  allowance  ought  to  be  made  for  his  being 
taken  so  by  surprise,  but  it  seemed  to  him  that  he 
had  never  since  known  Mr.  Webster  to  show  greater 
legal  ability  in  an  argument.* 

It  may  be  added,  that  the  defendant  in  that 
case  had  been  a  member  of  the  legislature  —  one 
of  the  creators  of  law.  This  led  Mr.  Webster,  in 

*  Life  of  Judge  Smith,  p.  263. 

12- 


172      WEBSTER'S  PROFESSIONAL  CHARACTER. 

his  argument  to  the  jury,  to  say,  in  connection  with 
the  sentiment  that  no  position  in  society  could  place 
a  man  above  the  reach  of  law,  that  "  the  majesty  and 
impartiality  of  the  law  were  such,  that  it  would 
bring  even  its  guilty  creator  to  its  feet  "  —  a  passage 
which  has  been  much  admired  for  its  felicity  and 
power. 

In  his  own,  and  in  other  states,  Mr.  Webster  wai 
engaged  in  some  of  the  most  important  cases  ever 
tried  in  the  country.  In  all  of  them  he  developed 
the  same  great  talents,  and  extensive  information 
upon  the  points  of  law  involved ;  the  same  clear- 
ness, terseness,  directness,  and  logical  power,  wheth- 
er pleading  to  the  court  or  to  the  jury.  These  cases 
embraced  almost  every  principle  which  is  made  the 
subject  of  litigation  in  our  courts,  and  in  all  of  them 
Mr.  Webster  proved  himself  to  be  at  home.  Those 
who  wish  to  know  the  character  of  his  pleas  on 
those  great  occasions  are  referred  to  his  works,  as 
edited  by  the  Hon.  Edward  Everett.  They  cannot 
be  too  strongly  recommended  to  the  young  men  of 
oui  land. 


CHAPTER    X. 

Mr.  Webster  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  —  His  first 
Speech.  —  Its  Impression.  —  Was  successful.  —  Not  in  Hasto 
to  debate.  —  His  Qualities  as  an  Orator.  —  An  Attack  on  New 
England.  —  Webster  and  Bell.  —  A  crowded  Senate.  —  His 
Introduction. —  His  Allusion  to  the  O'd  Bay  State.  —  The 
thrilling  Effect.  —  Meeting  in  the  East  Room.  —  Importance  of 
the  Speech.  —  Webster's  transcendent  Abilities. —  Seventh  of 
March  Speech.  —  Its  Effect.  —  Different  Opinions  concerning  it. 

No  individual  possessed  of  Mr.  Webster's  abili- 
ties could  remain  long  in  the  quiet  practice  of  any 
profession.  His  country  needed  his  talents,  and  de- 
manded that  all  should  be  laid  as  an  offering  upon 
the  altar  of  patriotism.  Great  genius  and  great 
modesty  are  ofttimes  inseparable  companions.  This 
was  seen  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Webster.  He  was  not 
anxious  to  enter  into  the  troubled  whirlpool  of  poli- 
tics. He  was  satisfied  with  his  profession,  and  was 
not  desirous  to  relinquish  it  for  the  honors  or  emol- 
uments of  public  office.  Yet,  at  the  call  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  he  consented  to  enter  upon  the  un- 
tried labors  and  responsibilities  of  congressional 
life. 

At  the  early  age  of  thirty  he  was  chosen  to  a  seat 
in  the  national  House  of  Representatives,  where  he 

173 


174  WEBSTER    IN    CONGRESS. 

was  immediately  brought  into  contact  with  a  galaxy 
of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  the  country.  He 
was  at  once  appointed  on  the  most  important  com- 
mittee in  the  house — that  of  foreign  relations. 
The  United  States  were  then  at  war  with  Great 
Britain,  and  consequently  an  unusual  amount  of  re- 
sponsibility and  labor  devolved  upon  this  committee. 
Although  he  was  now  introduced  upon  a  stage 
where  every  thing  was  novel  to  him,  —  where  the 
characters,  the  scenes,  the  machinery,  and  the  cast 
and  strength  of  the  company,  were  all  to  be  learned, 
—  yet  he  soon  proved  himself  to  be  an  apt  scholar. 
Yea,  before  long  he  became  a  teacher  there.  Not 
satisfied  with  being  like  a  spectator  at  a  theatre,  — 
an  inactive  beholder  of  other  men's  performances,  — 
he  preferred  to  take  part  in  the  important  drama 
himself.  Accordingly,  in  the  early  part  of  the  ses- 
sion, he  presented  a  series  of  resolutions  of  inquiry, 
concerning  the  repeal  of  the  Berlin  and  Milan  de- 
crees, and  on  the  10th  of  June,  1813,  he  made  his 
first  speech  in  Congress  in  their  support.  As  no 
report  of  the  speech  has  been  preserved,  we  have 
no  other  means  of  knowing  its  character,  and  the 
impression  which  it  produced,  than  from  tradition, 
and  the  remarks  of  those  who  were  favored  with  the 
privilege  of  hearing  it.  Mr.  Everett  says  that  it 
was  a  calm  and  statesmanlike  exposition  of  the  ob- 
ject of  the  resolutions  he  had  introduced,  and  wag 


HIS    FIRST    CONGRESSIONAL    SPEECH.  175 

marked  by  all  the  characteristics  of  Mr.  W.'s  ma- 
turest  parliamentary  efforts  —  "  moderation  of  tone, 
precision  of  statement,  force  of  reasoning,  absence 
of  ambitious  rhetoric  and  highflovvn  language,  occa- 
sional bursts  of  true  eloquence,  and,  pervading  the 
whole,  a  genuine  and  fervid  patriotism." 

Mr.  March  says  of  it,  "  The  opening  of  his  speech 
was  simple,  unaffected,  without  pretension,  gradually 
gaining  the  confidence  of  his  audience  by  its  trans- 
parent sincerity  and  freedom  from  aught  resembling 
display.  As  the  orator  continued  and  grew  animated 
his  vvords  became  more  fluent  and  his  language  more 
nervous ;  a  crowd  of  thoughts  seemed  rushing  upon 
him,  all  eager  for  utterance.  He  held  them,  how- 
ever, under  the  command  of  his  mind,  as  greyhounds 
with  a  leash,  till  he  neared  the  close  of  his  speech, 
when,  warmed  by  the  previous  restraint,  he  poured 
them  all  forth,  one  after  another,  in  glowing  lan- 
guage. 

"  The  speech  took  the  house  by  surprise,  not  so 
much  from  its  eloquence  as  from  the  vast  amount 
of  historical  knowledge  and  illustrative  ability  dis- 
played in  it.  How  a  person  untrained  to  forensic 
contests,  and  unused  to  public  affairs,  could  exhibit 
so  much  parliamentary  tact,  such  nice  appreciation 
of  the  difficulties  of  a  difficult  question,  and  such 
quiet  facility  in  surmounting  them,  puzzled  the  mind. 
The  age  and  inexperience  of  the  speaker  had  pre- 


176       OPINION    OF    CHIEF    JUSTICE    MARSHALL. 

pared  the  house  for  no  such  display,  and  astonishment 
for  a  time  subdued  the  expression  of  its  admiration." 

"  No  member  before,"  says  a  person  then  in  the 
house,  "  ever  riveted  the  attention  of  the  house  so 
closely,  in  his  first  speech.  Members  left  their 
seats  where  they  could  not  see  the  speaker  face  to 
face,  and  sat  down,  or  stood  on  the  floor,  fronting 
him.  All  listened  attentively  and  silently  during 
the  whole  speech  ;  and  when  it  was  over,  many  went 
up  and  warmly  congratulated  the  orator  ;  among 
whom  were  some,  riot  the  most  niggard  of  their 
compliments,  who  most  dissented  from  the  views  he 
had  expressed." 

Chief  Justice  Marshall,  writing  to  Judge  Story 
some  time  after  this  speech,  says,  "  At  the  time  when 
this  speech  was  delivered,  I  did  not  know  Mr.  Web 
ster ;  but  I  was  so  much  struck  with  it,  that  I  did 
not  hesitate  then  to  state  that  Mr.  Webster  was  a  very 
able  man,  and  would  become  one  of  the  first  states- 
men in  America,  and  perhaps  the  very  first." 

"  Such  praise,  from  such  a  man,"  says  Judge 
Story,  "  ought  to  be  very  gratifying.  Consider  that 
he  is  now  seventy-five  years  old,  and  that  he  speaks 
of  his  recollections  of  some  eighteen  years  ago  with 
a  freshness  which  shows  how  deeply  your  reasoning 
impressed  itself  upon  his  mind.  Keep  this  in  meno- 
riam  rei"  * 

The  speech  immediately  raised  its  author    to   the 
*  Story  to  Webster. 


HIS    SPEECH  SUCCESSFUL.  177 

first  consideration  ii  the  house,  and  gained  him 
great  reputation  throughout  the  country. 

Not  only  was  this  maiden  speech  commended  in 
the  strongest  terms  by  those  who  heard  it,  but,  more 
than  this,  it  accomplished  the  object  for  which  it  was 
delivered,  viz.,  the  adoption  of  the  resolution,  in  re- 
ply to  which,  Mr.  Monroe,  the  secretary  of  state, 
presented  an  elaborate  and  full  report,  furnishing 
all  the  information  that  was  called  for. 

It  will  not  be  possible,  in  the  limits  which  we  have 
assigned  for  this  volume,  to  give  at  any  length  the 
history  of  Mr.  Webster's  congressional  career,  which 
extended  through  a  series  of  forty  years  ;  neither  is 
it  necessary  for  those  for  whom  we  write.  It  must 
suffice  to  say,  that  during  this  long  period  he  was 
a  member  of  the  national  Congress,  either  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  House  of  Representatives  or  of  the  Senate. 
He  was  not  a  frequent  speaker ;  he  reserved  his 
strength  for  great  occasions.  An  important  motto 
with  him  was,  "  Some  questions  will  improve  by  keep- 
ing." Whilst,  therefore,  others  dashed  impatiently 
into  debate  upon  the  first  opportunity,  he  calmly 
waited.  By  listening  to  the  discussions  of  others, 
he  not  only  understood  what  was  said,  but  saw  clear- 
ly what  was  left  unsaid.  He  not  only  perceived  on 
what  points  light  was  shed,  but  also  what  was  left 
in  darkness.  He  also  learned  the  objections  which 
were  cherished  to  any  views  which  he  intended  to 


178  WEBSTER    AS    A    DEBATER. 

advocate ;  and  consequently,  when  he  arose,  he  was 
better  prepared  to  meet  the  issues  of  the  case  than 
those  who  took  the  initiative  in  the  debate.  He  was 
prepared  to  shed  light  upon  those  points  which  were 
left  in  shadow,  and  unravel  the  difficulties  which 
others  had  in  vain  tried  to  solve,  or  which,  in  con- 
scious weakness,  they  had  wisely  left  untouched. 
He  was  therefore  always  listened  to  with  interest 
and  profit.  He  always  contributed  something  new, 
either  in  fact  or  argument. 

As  a  debater  he  was  unsurpassed  :  with  deep,  so- 
norous, bass  tones  of  voice,  susceptible  of  a  great 
variety  of  modulation ;  with  deep-set,  dark,  bril 
liant*eyes,  overshadowed  by  a  high  projecting  fore- 
head, yet  susceptible  of  great  expression  ;  with  a  tall, 
well-developed,  manly  form,  —  he  possessed  all  the 
physical  elements  of  a  great  orator.  When  to  these 
it  is  added,  that  he  always  possessed  an  accurate 
and  extensive  knowledge  of  every  question  on  which 
he  intended  to  speak,  and  of  its  various  relations  to 
collateral  themes,  that  he  exhibited  a  marked  sim- 
plicity in  the  statement  of  his  propositions,  a  won- 
derful power  of  condensation  in  his  use  of  language, 
great  care  in  his  narrative  of  facts,  a  lucid  arrange- 
ment in  the  divisions  of  his  subject,  close  logical 
consecutiveness  in  his  reasoning,  and  a  delivery  at 
first  calm  and  deliberate,  but  as  he  advanced  in  his 
argument,  impassioned  and  earnest,  it  need  awaken 


WEBSTER    AN    ORATOR.  179 

no  surprise  that  he  was  listened  to  with  equal  pleas- 
ure by  highly-cultivated  scholars,  and  by  plain,  un- 
lettered men. 

An  amusing  evidence  of  Mr.  Webster's  simplicity 
of  expression  is  furnished  in  the  following  anecdote : 
On  the  arrival  of  that  singular  genius,  David 
Crockett,  at  Washington,  he  had  an  opportunity 
of  hearing  Mr.  Webster.  A  short  time  afterwards 
he  met  him,  and  abruptly  accosted  him  as  follows  : 
"  Is  this  Mr.  Webster  ?  "  «  Yes,  sir."  "  The 
great  Mr.  Webster,  of  Massachusetts  1  "  continued 
he,  with  a  significant  tone.  "  I  am  Mr.  Webster, 
of  Massachusetts,"  was  the  calm  reply.  "  Well, 
sir,"  continued  the  eccentric  Crockett,  «  I  had  heard 
that  you  were  a  great  man,  but  I  don't  think  so ;  [ 
heard  your  speech,  and  understood  every  word  you 
said"  Mr.  Webster  was  always  understood  ;  he 
possessed  the  rare  ability  of  presenting  the  most 
difficult  and  abstruse  themes  in  language  so  simple, 
yet  appropriate  and  beautiful,  that  any  individual  of 
even  ordinary  capacity  could  comprehend  them. 

After,  by  a  few  forensic  efforts,  he  had  established 
his  reputation  as  an  orator,  a  report  that  he  was  to 
speak  upon  any  subject  was  sure  to  fill  the  Senate 
chamber  to  its  utmost  capacity.  One  of  his  most 
remarkable  displays  of  eloquence  was  given  in  his 
great  debate  with  Colonel  Hayne,  of  South  Carolina. 

This   latter  gentleman   had   made  in  the   Senate 


180  ATTACK "OF    COLONEL    HAYNE. 

what  was  regarded  as  a  most  unjustifiable  and  vio- 
lent attack  upon  Mr.  Webster  and  the  institutions 
of  New  England.  The  speech  produced  a  profound 
sensation.  If  its  false  statements  and  erroneous  prin- 
ciples were  not  corrected,  there  was  danger  of  its 
doing  much  mischief. 

Mr.  Webster  felt  called  upon  to  reply.  At  the 
same  time  he  regarded  himself  as  placed  in  a  critical 
position  ;  and  the  more  so  as  he  was  aware  that  some 
of  his  political  frifends  might  not  agree  with  the  views 
he"  was  about  to  present  in  answer  to  Colonel 
Hayne.  It  appeared  to  him  that  the  constitution 
and  the  peace  of  the  country  were  in  danger.  He 
earnestly  desired  to  give  utterance  to  his  sentiments, 
and  yet  he  did  not  wish  to  assume  a  position  adverse 
to  any  of  his  friends.  On  the  morning  of  the  day 
on  which  he  made  his  reply,  he  invited  Hon.  Mr. 
Bell,  of  New  Hampshire,  into  the  robing  room  of 
the  Senate,  and  revealed  to  him  his  embarrassment. 
"  You  know,  Mr.  Bell,  my  constitutional  opinions ; 
there  are  among  my  friends  in  the  Senate  some  who 
may  not  concur  in  them.  What  is  expedient  to  be 
done  ?  "  "I  advise  you,"  said  Mr.  Bell,  in  a  very 
emphatic  manner,  "  to  speak  out  boldly  and  fully 
your  thoughts  upon  the  subject.  It  is  a  critical  mo 
ment,"  he  added,  "  and  it  is  time,  it  is  high  time, 
that  the  people  of  this  country  should  know  what 
this  constitution  is." 


MR.  BELL'S  ADVICE.  181 

"  Then,"  replied  Mr.  Webster,  in  a  calm,  but  de- 
termined manner,  "  by  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  they 
shall  learn  this-  day,  before  the  sun  goes  down,  what 
I  understand  it  to  be." 

Thanks  to  Mr.  Bell  for  his  word  of  encourage- 
ment at  that  trying  moment ;  it  had  its  influence. 

No  one  has  given  a  more  lifelike  and  vivid  ao 
count  of  that  great  occasion  than  Mr.  March,  and 
we  are  persuaded  that  we  cannot  render  a  better 
service  to  our  readers  than  by  transferring  a  part  of 
his  description  to  our  pages. 

"  It  was  on  Tuesday,  January  the  26th,  18^0,  — 
a  day  to  be  hereafter  forever  memorable  in  senato- 
rial annals,  —  that  the  Senate  resumed  the  considera- 
tion of  Foot's  resolution.  There  never  was  be- 
fore, in  the  city,  an  occasion  of  so  much  excitement. 
To  witness  this  great  intellectual  contest,  multitudes 
of  strangers  had  for  two  or  three  days  previous  been 
rushing  into  the  city,  and  the  hotels  overflowed.  As 
early  as  nine  o'clock  of  this  morning,  crowds  poured 
into  the  Capitol,  in  hot  haste  ;  at  twelve  o'clock,  the 
hour  of  meeting,  the  Senate  chamber  —  its  galleries, 
floor,  and  even  lobbies  —  was  filled  to  its  utmost 
capacity.  The  very  stairways  were  dark  with  men, 
who  hung  on  to  one  another  like  bees  in  a  swarm. 

"  The  House  of  Representatives  was  early  desert- 
ed. An  adjournment  would  have  hardly  made  it 
emptier.  The  speaker,  it  is  true,  retained  his  chair, 


182  THE    SENATE    CROWDED. 

but  no  business  of  moment  was,  or  could  be  attend 
ed  to.  Members  all  rushed  in  to  hear  Mr.  Webster, 
and  no.  call  of  the  house  or  other  parliamentary 
proceedings  could  compel  them  back.  The  floor 
of  the  Senate  was  so  densely  crowded,  that  persons 
once  in  could  not  get  out,  nor  change  their  position  ; 
in  the  rear  of  the  vice-presidential  chair,  the  crowd 
was  particularly  intense.  Dixon  H.  Lewis,  then  a 
representative  from  Alabama,  became  wedged  in 
here.  From  his  enormous  size,  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  move  without  displacing  a  vast  portion  of 
the  multitude.  Unfortunately,  too,  for  him,  he  was 
jammed  in  directly  behind  the  chair  of  the  vice 
president,  where  he  could  not  see,  and  hardly  hear, 
the  speaker.  By  slow  and  laborious  effort  —  paus- 
ing occasionally  to  breathe — he  gained  one  of  the 
windows,  which,  constructed  of  painted  glass,  flank 
the  chair  of  the  vice  president  on  either  side. 
Here  he  paused,  unable  to  make  more  headway  ; 
but  determined  .to  see  Mr.  Webster  as  he  spoke,  with 
his  knife  he  made  a  large  hole  in  one  of  the  panes 
of  the  glass  ;  which  is  still  visible  as  he  made  it. 
Many  were  so  placed  as  not  to  be  able  to  see  the 
speaker  at  all. 

"  The  courtesy  of  senators  accorded  to  the  fairer 
sex  room  on  the  floor  —  the  most  gallant  of  them 
their  own  seats.  The  gay  bonnets  and  brilliant 


MR.    WEBSTER   PREPARED.  183 

dresses  threw  a  varied  and   picturesque  beautv  over 
the  scene,  softening  and  embellishing  it. 

"  Seldom,  if  ever,  has  a  speaker  in  this  or  any 
other  country  had  more  powerful  incentives  to  exer- 
tion —  a  subject,  the  determination  of  which  involved 
the  most  important  interests,  and  even  duration,  of 
the  republic  ;  competitors  unequalled  in  reputation, 
ability,  or  position ;  a  name  to  make  still  more  glo- 
rious, or  lose  forever  ;  and  an  audience  comprising 
not  only  persons  of  this  country  most  eminent  in 
intellectual  greatness,  but  representatives  of  other 
nations,  where  the  art  of  eloquence  had  flourished  for 
ages.  All  the  soldier  seeks  in  opportunity  was  here. 

"  Mr.  Webster  perceived,  and  felt  equal  to,  the 
destinies  of  the  moment.  The  very  greatness  of 
the  hazard  exhilarated  him.  His  spirits  rose  with 
the  occasion.  He  awaited  the  time  of  onset  with  a 
stern  and  impatient  joy.  He  felt  like  the  war  horse 
of  the  Scriptures,  who  '  paweth  in  the  valley,  and 
rejoiceth  in  his  strength ;  who  goeth  on  to  meet  the 
armed  men ;  who  sayeth  among  the  trumpets, 
Ha,  ha !  and  who  smelleth  the  battle  afar  off,  the 
thunder  of  the  captains  and  the  shouting.' 

"  A  confidence  in  his  own  resources,  springing 
from  no  vain  estimate  of  his  power,  but  the  legiti- 
mate offspring  of  previous  severe  mental  discipline, 
sustained  and  excited  him.  He  had  gauged  his  op 
ponents,  his  subject,  and  himself. 


184  WEBSTER'S  SELF-POSSESSION. 

*•  He  was,  too,  at  this  period,  in  the  very  prime 
of  manhood.  He  had  reached  middle  age  —  an 
era  in  the  life  of  man  when  the  faculties,  physical 
or  intellectual,  may  be  supposed  to  attain  their  fullest 
organization  and  most  perfect  development.  What- 
ever there  was  in  him  of  intellectual  energy  and 
vitality,  the  occasion,  his  full  life  and  high  ambition, 
might  well  bring  forth. 

"He  never  rose  on  an  ordinary  occasion  to  ad- 
dress an  ordinary  audience  more  self-possessed. 
There  was  no  tremulousness  in  his  voice  or  man- 
ner ;  nothing  hurried,  nothing  simulated.  The  calm- 
ness of  superior  strength  was  visible  every  where  — 
in  countenance,  voice,  and  bearing.  A  deep-seated 
conviction  of  the  extraordinary  character  of  the 
emergency,  and  of  his  ability  to  control  it,  seemed 
to  possess  him  wholly.  If  an  observer,  more  than 
ordinarily  keen-sighted,  detected  at  times  something 
like  exultation  in  his  eye,  he  presumed  it  sprang  from 
the  excitement  of  the  moment,  and  the  anticipation 
of  victory. 

"  The  anxiety  to  hear  the  speech  was  so  intense, 
irrepressible,  and  universal,  that  no  sooner  had  the 
vice  president  assumed  the  chair,  than  a  motion  was' 
made,  and  unanimously  carried,  to  postpone  the  or- 
dinary preliminaries  of  senatorial  action,  and  to 
take  up  immediately  the  consideration  of  the  reso- 
lution. 


HIS    EXORDIUM.  185 

"  Mr.  Webster  rose  and  addressed  the  Senate. 
His  exordium  is  known  by  heart  every  where  :  «  Mr. 
President,  when  the  mariner  has  been  tossed,  for 
many  days,  in  thick  weather,  and  on  an  unknown 
sea,  he  naturally  avails  himself  of  the  first  pause  in 
the  storm,  the  earliest  glance  of  the  sun,  to  take  his 
latitude,  and  ascertain  how  far  the  elements  have 
driven  him  from  his  true  course.  Let  us  imitate  this 
prudence,  and,  before  we  float  further  on  the  waves 
of  this  debate,  refer  to  the  point  from  which  we  de- 
parted, that  we  may,  at  least,  be  able  to  form  some 
conjecture  where  we  now  are.  I  ask  for  the  read- 
ing of  the  resolution.' 

"  There  wanted  no  more  to  enchain  the  attention. 
There  was  a  spontaneous,  though  silent,  expression 
of  eager  approbation,  as  the  orator  concluded  these 
opening  remarks ;  and,  while  the  clerk  read  the 
resolution,  many  attempted  the  impossibility  of  get- 
ting nearer  the  speaker.  Every  head  was  inclined 
closer  towards  him,  every  ear  turned  in  the  direc- 
tion of  his  voice,  and  that  deep,  sudden,  mysterious 
silence  followed,  which  always  attends  fulness  of 
emotion.  From  the  sea  of  upturned  faces  before 
him,  the  orator  beheld  his  thoughts  reflected  as  from 
a  mirror.  The  varying  countenance,  the  suffused 
eye,  the  earnest  smile,  and  ever-attentive  look,  as- 
sured him  of  his  audience's  entire  sympathy.  If 
among  his  hearers  there  were  those  who  affected  at 
13 


186  FIKST    IMPRESSIONS. 

first  an  indifference  to  his  glowing  thoughts  and  fer- 
vent periods,  the  difficult  mask  was  soon  laid  aside, 
and  profound,  undisguised,  devoted  attention  fol- 
lowed. In  the  earlier  part  of  his  speech,  one  of  his 
principal  opponents  seemed  deeply  engrossed  in  the 
careful  perusal  of  a  newspaper  he  held  before  his 
face ;  but  this,  on  nearer  approach,  proved  to  be 
upside  down.  In  truth,  all,  sooner  or  later,  volunta- 
rily, or  in  spite  of  themselves,  were  wholly  carried 
away  by  the  eloquence  of  the  orator. 

"  Those  who  had  doubted  Mr.  Webster's  ability 
to  cope  with  and  overcome  his  opponents  were 
fully  satisfied  of  their  error  before  he  had  proceeded 
far  in  his  speech.  Their  fears  soon  took  another 
direction.  When  they  heard  his  sentences  of  pow- 
erful thought,  towering,  in  accumulative  grandeur, 
one  above  the  other,  as  if  the  orator  strove,  Titan- 
like,  to  reach  the  very  heavens  themselves,  they 
were  giddy  with  an  apprehension  that  he  would 
break  down  in  his  flight.  They  dared  not  believe 
that  genius,  learning,  any  intellectual  endowment, 
however  uncommon,  that  was  simply  mortal,  could 
sustain  itself  long  in  a  career  seemingly  so  perilous. 
They  feared  an  Icarian  fall. 

"  Ah,  who  can  ever  forget,  that  was  present  to 
hear  the  tremendous,  the  awful  burst  of  eloquence, 
with  which  the  orator  spoke  of  the  Old  Bay  State  ? 
or  the  tones  of  deep  pathos  in  which  the  words  were 
pronounced  7  — 


HIS    DEFENCE    OF    MASSACHUSETTS.  187 

"  « Mr.  President,  I  shall  enter  on  no  encomium 
upon  Massachusetts.  There  she  is  —  behold  her, 
and  judge  for  yourselves.  There  is  her  history  — 
the  world  knows  it  by  heart !  The  past,  at  least, 
is  secure.  There  is  Boston,  and  Concord,  and  Lex- 
ington, and  Bunker  Hill  —  and  there  they  will  re- 
main forever.  The  bones  of  her  sons,  falling  in  the 
great  struggle  for  independence,  now  lie  mingled 
with  the  soil  of  every  state,  from  New  England  to 
Georgia  —  and  there  they  will  lie  forever.  And, 
sir,  where  American  Liberty  raised  its  first  voice, 
and  where  its  youth  was  nurtured  and  sustained, 
there  it  still  lives,  in  the  strength  of  its  manhood, 
and  full  of  its  original  spirit.  If  discord  and  dis- 
union shall  wound  it  —  if  party  strife  and  blind 
ambition  shall  hawk  at  and  tear  it  —  if  folly  and 
madness,  if  uneasiness  under  salutary  and  neces- 
sary restraint,  shall  succeed  to  separate  it  from  that 
Union,  by  which  alone  its  existence  is  made  sure,  it 
will  stand,  in  the  end,  by  the  side  of  that  cradle  in 
which  its  infancy  was  rocked  ;  it  will  stretch  forth 
its  arm,  with  whatever  of  "vigor  it  may  still  retain, 
over  the  friends  who  gather  round  it ;  and  it  will 
fall  at  last,  if  fall  it  must,  amidst  the  proudest  mon- 
uments of  its  own  glory,  and  on  the  very  spot  of  its 
origin.' 

"  What  New  England  heart  was  there  but  throbbed 
with  vehement,  tumultuous,  irrepressible  emotion,  as 


188  THE    SENSATION    PRODUCED. 

he  dwelt  upon  New  England  sufferings,  New  Eng- 
land struggles,  and  New  England  triumphs,  during 
the  war  of  the  revolution  ?  There  was  scarcely  a 
dry  eye  in  the  Senate ;  all  hearts  were  overcome  ; 
grave  judges,  and  men  grown  old  in  dignified  life, 
turned  aside  their  heads  to  conceal  the  evidences  of 
their  emotion. 

"  In  one  corner  of  the  gallery  was  clustered  a 
group  of  Massachusetts  men.  They  had  hung  from 
the  first  moment  upon  the  words  of  the  speaker,  with 
feelings  variously  but  always  warmly  excited,  deepen 
ing  in  intensity  as  he  proceeded.  At  first,  while  the 
orator  was  going  through  his  exordium,  they  held 
their  breath  and  hid  their  faces,  mindful  of  the  sav- 
age attack  upon  him  and  New  England,  and  the 
fearful  odds  against  him,  her  champion  ;  as  he  went 
deeper  into  his  speech,  they  felt  easier ;  when  he 
turned  Hayne's  flank,  on  Banquo's  ghost,  they 
breathed  freer  and  deeper.  But  now,  as  he  alluded 
to  Massachusetts,  their  feelings  were  strained  to  the 
highest  tension  ;  and  when  the  orator,  concluding 
his  encomium  upon  the  land  of  their  birth,  turned, 
intentionally  or  otherwise,  his  burning  eye  full  upon 
them,  they  shed  tears  like  girls  ! 

"No  one  who  was  not  present  can  understand 
the  excitement  of  the  scene.  No  one  who  was  can 
give  an  adequate  description  of  it.  No  word-paint 
ing  can  convey  the  deep,  intense  enthusiasm,  the 


MR.  EVERETT'S  TESTIMONY.  189 

reverential  attention,  of  that  vast  assembly,  nor 
limner  transfer  to  canvas  their  earnest,  eager,  awe- 
struck countenances.  Though  language  wrre  as 
subtile  and  flexible  as  thought,  it  still  would  be 
impossible  to  represent  the  full  idea  of  the  scene. 
There  is  something  intangible  in  an  emotion,  which 
cannot  be  transferred.  The  nicer  shades  of  feeling 
elude  pursuit.  Every  description,  therefore,  of  the 
occasion,  seems  to  the  narrator  himself  most  tame, 
spiritless,  unjust. 

"  Much  of  the  instantaneous  effect  of  the  speech 
arose,  of  course,  from  the  orator's  delivery  —  the 
tones  of  his  voice,  his  countenance,  and  manner. 
These  die  mostly  with  the  occasion  that  calls  them 
forth ;  the  impression  is  lost  in  the  attempt  at 
transmission  from  one  mind  to  another.  They  can 
only  be  described  in  general  terms.  « Of  the  effec- 
tiveness of  Mr.  Webster's  manner,  in  many  parts,' 
says  Mr.  Everett,  'it  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  to 
give  any  one  not  present  the  faintest  idea.  It  has 
been  my  fortune  to  hear  some  of  the  ablest  speeches 
of  the  greatest  living  orators  on  both  sides  of  the 
water  ;  but  I  must  confess,  I  never  heard  any  thing 
which  so  completely  realized  my  conception  of  what 
Demosthenes  was  when  he  delivered  the  oration  for 
the  crown.'  " 

Another  gentleman  who  was  present  on  that  deep- 
ly interesting  occasion,  in  describing  the  effect  pro- 


190  HAYNE'S  ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 

duced  upon  his  own    mind  by   this   speech  of  Mr 
Webster,  said,  — 

"  He  was  a  totally  different  thing  from  any  public 
speaker  I  ever  heard.  I  sometimes  felt  as  if  I  were 
looking  at  a  mammoth  treading,  at  an  equable  and 
Btately  pace,  his  native  canebrake,  and,  without 
apparent  consciousness,  crushing  obstacles~which  na- 
ture had  never  designed  as  impediments  to  him." 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  this  great 
speech  was  delivered,  the  president  held  a  levee  in 
the  White  House,  as  his  mansion  is  called.  A  large 
and  brilliant  company  were  assembled.  The  famous 
east  room  was  crowded.  There  were  representa- 
tives, senators,  judges,  naval  officers,  gentlemen  of 
distinction  from  abroad,  private  citizens,  and  ladies, 
all  attired  in  elegant  costume  befitting  the  occasion. 
At  one  end  of  this  spacious  apartment  was  Colonel 
Hayne,  surrounded  by  his  friends ;  at  the  other  end 
was  Daniel  Webster,  in  the  centre  of  a  group  of  his 
admirers.  During  the  evening  Mr.  Hayne  made 
his  way  to  the  opposite  end  of  the  room,  for  the 
purpose  of  expressing  his  congratulations  to  his 
distinguished  opponent.  Mr.  Webster  saw  him  ap- 
proaching, and  when  he  had  arrived  sufficiently  near, 
he  advanced  with  his  hand  extended,  and  in  his  ac- 
customed familiar  manner  said,  "  How  are  you, 
Colonel  Hayne  ?  "  to  which  the  colonel  immediately 
replied,  "  None  the  better  for  you,  sir"  A  frank 
acknowledgment  of  a  painful  truth. 


IMPORTANCE    OF    THIS    SPEECH.  19l 

Mr.  Webster's  reply  in  the  Senate  to  Mr.  Hayne 
was  soon  widely  circulated.  It  was  printed  in  the 
papers  of  all  the  states  of  the  Union  ;  it  was  read 
and  commented  on  by  thousands ;  it  assisted  to 
dissipate  the  dark  clouds  which  were  gathering  over 
our  country ;  it  arrested  nullification ;  it  neutral- 
ized the  effect  of  wrong  views  respecting  state  rights, 
arid  the  relation  of  the  several  states  to  the  national 
government,  by  presenting  those  which  were  correct ; 
it  rendered  important  assistance  in  saving  the  coun- 
try from  a  civil  war,  and  perhaps  from  a  dissolution 
of  the  Union.  The  crisis  was  one  of  great  respon- 
sibility, and  nobly  was  it  met.  This  single  speech, 
viewed  in  connection  with  the  circumstances  under 
which  it  was  delivered,  and  the  important  effects 
which  followed  it,  was  enough  to  have  given  him 
great  and  permanent  renown,  though  he  had  per 
formed  no  other  public  act  during  his  life  ;  but  when 
we  remember  that  this  was  only  one  of  a  long  series 
of  important  acts,  scattered  over  a  period  of  forty 
years,  in  which  Mr.  Webster  proved  himself  equal 
to  every  occasion,  and  competent  to  suggest  reme- 
dies, in  accordance  with  his  views  of  the  constitution, 
for  every  difficulty,  however  great  or  intricate,  in 
which  the  nation  was  involved,  our  admiration  of  his 
transcendent  abilities  is  greatly  increased. 

Another    speech    which     was    delivered    by   Mr 
Webster  in  the  Senate  of  the  United    States,  and 


192  SEVENTH    OF    MARCH    SPEECH. 

wliich  produced  a  profound  sensation  throughout  the 
country,  was  given  on  the  7th  of  March,  1850,  and 
is  in  his  printed  works  entitled  the  Constitution 
and  the  Union ;  it  is  more  generally  known  as  his 
speech  in  support  of  the  fugitive  slave  bill.  As 
this  was  one  of  the  most  important  speeches  of  Mr. 
Webster  during  his  long  congressional  career,  it  is 
proper  that  we  allude  to  it  in  this  connection. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  when  the  union  of 
the  states  was  formed,  a  number  of  the  states  at  the 
north,  as  well  as  those  at  the  south,  sanctioned  sla- 
very. It  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  slaves  — 
apprentices  and  servants  —  to  escape  from  one  state 
and  flee  into  another ;  it  was,  therefore,  deemed 
important  that,  in  the»  constitution  of  the  United 
States,  provision  should  be  made  for  the  reclaiming 
of  these  fugitives.  The  south  was  unwilling  to  form 
a  union  with  the  north  without  such  provision. 
The  north  consented  ;  it  was  accordingly  inserted 
in  the  constitution,  that  persons  held  to  service  in 
one  state,  who  should  escape  and  flee  into  another 
state,  might  be  reclaimed  by  those  who  held  them 
as  servants.  With  this  the  Southern  States  were 
satisfied,  and  believing  that  in  this  matter  the  north 
was  acting  in  good  faith,  they  cheerfully  came  into 
the  Union. 

In  the  course  of  years,  great  difficulty  was  expe 
rienced  in  executing  this   provision  of  the  constitu 


NATIONAL    EXCITEMENT.  193 

tion.  The  men  who  framed  that  important  docu- 
ment passed  away ;  other  generations  arose  and 
took  their  places ;  amongst  these  were  many  who 
regretted  the  existence  of  this  provision,  and  who 
were  unwilling  to  comply  'with  it.  The  legislatures 
of  some  of  the  states  passed  laws  adverse  to  it,  and 
designed  to  impede  its  execution.  Associations  were 
formed  at  the  north  to  aid  the  flight  of  slaves  into 
Canada,  which  were  instrumental  in  bringing  many 
out  of  bondage  into  the  enjoyment  of  personal  lib- 
erty. The  south  became  irritated,  accused  the 
Northern  States  of  violating  the  constitution,  and 
threatened  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  The  ex- 
citement occasioned  by  this  state  of  things  was  wide- 
spread and  intense.  It  was  believed  by  some  that 
the  Union  was  in  danger. 

Under  these  circumstances,  Mr.  Webster  felt  it  to 
be  his  duty  to  exert  himself  to  the  full  extent  of  his 
ability  to  allay  the  universal  agitation.  For  this 
purpose  he  delivered,  on  the  7th  of  March,  1850, 
his  great  speech  for  the  Constitution  and  the  Union, 
in  which  he  favored  the  passage  of  a  law  for  re- 
claiming fugitive  slaves. 

This  speech  awakened  widely  different  feelings 
throughout  the  country. 

There  were  those  who  regarded  it  as  evidence  of 
treason  to  freedom  —  as  an  act  which  sullied  what 
would  otherwise  have  been  his  spotless  fame.  Many 


194  OPPOSITE    OPINIONS. 

of  his  own  political  friends  deeply  regretted  the  po- 
sition which  he  then  assumed.  The  pulpit  and  the 
press  poured  out  upon  him  their  burning  anathemas. 
No  language  was  too  strong  in  which  to  give  expres- 
sion to  the  animadversions  which  were  indulged. 
But  others  took  a  directly  opposite  view.  They  re- 
garded it  as  preeminently  judicious  and  timely,  as  a 
neutralizing  element,  thrown  into  the  caldron  of 
public  opinion,  where  the  elements  of  disunion  were 
in  violent  effervescence.  It  appeared  to  them  as  the 
greatest  and  most  valuable  offering  Mr.  Webster 
ever  made  for  his  country's  good  —  as  the  crown- 
ing glory  of  his  life. 

The  following  extracts  are  presented  as  speci- 
mens of  these  opposite  views.  The  first  is  from 
an  article  on  Mr.  Webster  in  one  of  our  leading 
Quarterlies. 

"  We  were  in  Boston  when  the  telegraph  brought 
a  few  brief  lines,  indicating  the  positions  of  that  7th 
of  March  speech.  Almost  every  body  seemed  filled 
with  amazement,  and  suggested  that  the  Washington 
telegraphist  must  be  a  mischievous  wag,  or  that  the 
lightning  had  falsified  the  message  with  whose  deliv- 
ery it  had  been  charged.  The  wisest  editors  con- 
fessed themselves  puzzled,  and  besought  the  public 
to  suspend  their  judgment  till  the  facts  could  be 
learned. 

"  The  speech  itself  came   in   due  time,  and.  then 


EXTRACT    FROM    A    REVIEW.  195 

there  was  doubt  no  longer.  The  whole  north 
seemed  indignant,  and  Massachusetts  hung  her  head 
in  mortification.  Even  in  her  legislative  halls,  men 
who  had  never  been  suspected  of  radical  tendencies 
shook  their  heads  meaningly,  and  muttered  of 
treachery  and  Benedict  Arnold.  The  Bay  State  felt 
that  her  honest  pride  had  been  heartlessly  humbled, 
and  her  confidence  abused.  But  Daniel  Webster 
was  a  great  man,  having  great  influence  ;  and  the 
question  was  mooted,  at  first  privately,  whether  we 
could  afford  to  lose  him.  The  tone  of  the  press  was 
changed ;  the  legislature  laid  the  proposition  to  re- 
quest him  to  resign  his  seat  under  the  table ;  politi- 
cal commentators  wrote  parodies  on  the  speech  ;  the 
merchants  apologized  for  its  seeming  severity  on 
northern  heresies ;  the  pulpit  pleaded  for  moderation  ; 
a  thousand  men  of  standing  and  property  wrote  him 
a  letter  of  thanks  ;  he  himself  came  on,  and  rode 
through  the  streets  of  Boston,  telling  her,  as  he  went, 
that  he  was  on  the  road  of  political  safety  ;  and 
then  we  knew  that  the  battle  of  freedom  was  to  be 
fought,  not  only  without  his  assistance,  but  with  his 
giant  form  towering  up  in  the  van  of  the  hosts  of 
despotism,  making  a  mock  of  our  faith  and  our 
feebleness." 

The  next  is  from  a  Eulogy  of  Daniel  Web- 
ster, by  a  distinguished  divine. 

"  At  a  later  period,  and  nearer  to  our  own  tunes, 


196  EULOGY. 

the  prevalence  at  the  north  of  hostility  to  southern 
institutions  gave  birth  to  projects  by  which  the 
Union  and  the  constitution  were  again  endangered 
—  the  Union  by  fostering  a  spirit  of  desperate  sec- 
tional animosity,  the  constitution  by  trampling 
on  the  guaranties  established  by  it  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  rights  of  the  slaveholding  states. 
Through  the  excitement  consequent  upon  these 
projects,  the  public  business  was  brought  to  a  stand, 
and  the  public  mind  dismayed  with  the  apprehension 
of  coming  evils.  In  this  crisis,  the  veteran  senator 
from  Massachusetts  was  seen  again  at  his  post,  look- 
ing somewhat  older,  but  showing  no  abatement 
either  in  the  power  of  his  mind  or  the  fire  of  his 
patriotism.  He  stood  where  he  always  had  stood, 
and  where  he  had  promised  he  should  always  be 
found  —  for  the  constitution  and  the  Union.  The 
assailants  came  from  the  opposite  point  of  the 
compass,  and  so  he  had  faced  about ;  but  he  had 
not  changed  sides.  It  was  no  longer  the  gay  and 
prancing  chivalry  of  the  south  which  he  had  to  en- 
counter; but  a  sturdy  and  multitudinous  northern 
constituency,  and  foremost  among  them  his  old 
friends  from  Massachusetts,  with  whom  and  for 
whom  he  had  stood  so  long,  now  advancing  under 
new  leaders,-  and  impelled  to  constantly  new  en- 
croachments by  the  aggressive  force  of  moral  and 
religious  convictions.  The  impending  contest  im 


A    SEVERE    TRIAb.  197 

posed  upon  him  the  severest  trial  of  his  life.  It 
required  his  parting  with  old  friends,  for  whom  he 
cherished  profound  esteem,  and  whose  animating 
convictions  on  the  great  question  at  issue  were 
deeply  shared  by  him,  in  every  thing  but  in  their 
threatening  aspect  to  the  Union  and  the  constitution. 
But  so  long  as  he  believed  these  to  be  in  danger,  it 
concerned  him  little  who  were  friends  or  foes.  In 
the  similar  crisis  just  referred  to,  he  had  united  in 
the  defence  of  the  constitution  with  an  administra- 
tion to  the  general  policy  of  which  he  was  strongly 
opposed,  and  against  which  he  had  always  acted  ; 
and  he  was  prepared  now,  in  a  case  equally  involv- 
ing the  stability  of  the  government,  to  separate  from 
those  whose  general  policy  he  approved  and  had  al- 
ways supported.  He  foresaw  the  storm  he  was 
raising ;  but  it  did  not  move  him  from  his  purpose. 
He  was  willing  now,  as  before,  to  take  his  chance 
among  those  upon  whom  blows  might  fall  first  and 
fall  thickest.  And  accordingly  on  the  7th  of  March 
his  voice  was  again  heard,  in  tones  as  earnest  as  ever 
came  from  his  lips,  speaking,  not  as  a  Massachusetts 
man,  nor  as  a  northern  man,  but  as  an  American, 
and  as  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States.  '  He  felt,'  he  said,  « that  he  had  a  duty  to 
perform,  a  part  to  act,  not  for  his  own  security,  for 
he  was  looking  out  for  no  fragment  upon  which  to 
float  away  from  the  wreck,  if  wreck  there  must  be, 


1U8  THE    RESULT. 

but  for  the  good  of  the  whole,  for  the  preservation 
of  the  Union.'  It  has  turned  out  here,  as  before, 
that  the  post  of  danger,  assumed  voluntarily  in  the 
spirit  of  self-sacrifice,  became  the  post  of  honor. 
By  a  singular  felicity  of  fortune,  Mr.  Webster  be 
came,  the  second  time,  the  principal  instrument  of  a 
deliverance  as  signal  as  any  which  has  occurred  in 
the  history  of  the  nation.  By  common  consent  he 
is  entitled  to  the  principal  credit  of  this  great  settle- 
ment, in  which  the  north  and  the  south  have  once 
more  embraced  each  other  with  fraternal  affection, 
and  under  which  the  country  has  resumed  its  wonted 
career  of  peace  and  prosperity." 

The  above  quotations  are  sufficient  to  convey  an 
idea  of  the  conflicting  opinions  which  were  cherished 
of  Mr.  Webster's  course  on  that  trying  occasion  by 
different  portions  of  the  community. 

This  diversity  of  sentiment  will  long  exist,  and 
will  doubtless  have  —  whether  justly  or  unjustly  — 
great  influence  upon  the  opinions  of  men,  not  only 
respecting  his  policy  and  conduct  in  that  particular 
instance,  but  also  as  to  his  general  character. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Ezekisl  Webster.  —  A  noble  Mother.  —  An  affecting  NigH 
Scene. —  Fraternal  Attachment. — Touching  Tribute  of  Affec- 
tion. —  A  beautiful  Letter.  —  Dedications.  — •  Living  Monu  • 
ments. —  The  Profile.  —  Mother's  Garden.  —  Mr.  Webster 

visits  his  Grave. — The  Cemetery His    Remarks.  —  Monu 

mental    Inscriptions.  —  Mr.  Webster's   Poetry,    •''  The  Memory 
of  the  Heart." 

WITH  all  his  greatness,  Mr.  Webster  was  a  man 
of  tender  sensibility.  His  domestic  attachments 
were  strong.  His  exalted  honors  did  not  dry  up 
the  fountains  of  deep  feeling.  Several  incidents, 
illustrative  of  these  traits  of  character,  we  propose 
to  group  together  in  the  present  chapter. 

While  Mr.  Webster  was  pursuing  his  course  of 
studies  at  college,  his  brother  Ezekiel  was  "Sat  home, 
assisting  his  father  in  carrying  on  the  farm.  He 
was  a  strong  young  man,  both  physically  and  intel- 
lectually. Daniel  appreciated  his  talents,  and  be- 
lieved that,  with  suitable  cultivation,  Jie  might  attain 
to  distinction  in  professional  life.  He  was  unwilling 
to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  a  public  education  alone. 
He  earnestly  desired  that  the  same  boon  might  be 
conferred  upon  his  brother,  and  he  resolved  that  it 
should  be,  if  any  influence  of  his  could  effect  it. 
He  determined  to  make  the  effort  by  introducing 

199 


200  A  NOBLE  MOTHER. 

the  matter  first  to  Ezekiel  and  then  to  his  father. 
When  spending  the  vacations  at  home,  he  and  hia 
brother  were  accustomed  to  sleep  together.  One 
night,  after  they  had  retired  to  rest,  Daniel  opened 
the  matter  to  his  brother,  and  they  conversed  freely 
upon  it.  "Daniel  utterly  refused  to  enjoy  the  fruit 
of  his  brother's  labor  any  longer.  They  were  united 
in  sympathy  and  affection,  and  they  must  be  united 
in  their  pursuits.  But  how  could  they  leave  their 
beloved  parents,  in  age  and  solitude,  with  no  pro- 
tector ?  They  talked  and  wept,  and  wept  and 
talked,  till  dawn  of  day.  They  dared  not  broach 
the  matter  to  their  father.  Finally  Daniel  resolved 
to  -be  the  orator  upon  the  occasion.  Judge  Webster 
was  then  somewhat  burdened  with  debts.  He  was 
advanced  in  age,  and  had  set  his  heart  upon  hav- 
ing Ezekiel  as  his  helper.  The  very  thought  of 
separation  from  both  his  sons  was  painful  to  him. 
When  the  proposition  was  made,  he  felt  as  did  the 
patriarch  of  old,  when  he  exclaimed,  '  Joseph  is  not, 
and  will  ye  also  take  Benjamin  away  ?  * 
A  family  council  was  called.  The  mother's  opinion 
was  asked.  She  was  a  strong-minded  woman.  She 
was  not  blind  to  the  superior  endowments  of  her 
sons.  With  all  a  mother's  partiality,  however,  she 
did  not  over-estimate  their  powers.  She  decided  the 
matter  at  once.  Her  reply  was,  '  I  have  lived  long 
in  the  world,  and  have  been  happy  in  my  children. 


AfFECTIOJJATE    BROTHERS.  201 

If  Daniel  and  Ezekiel  will  promise  to  take  care  of 
me  in  my  old  age,  /  mil  consent  to  the  sale  of  all  our 
property  at  once,  and  they  may  enjoy  the  benefit  of 
that  which  remains  after  our  debts  are  paid.'  This 
was  a  moment  of  intense  interest  to  all  the  parties. 
Parents  and  children  all  mingled  their  tears  together, 
and  sobbed  aloud,  at  the  thought  of  separation.  The 
father  yielded  to  the  entreaties  of  the  sons  and  the 
advice  of  his  wife.  Daniel  returned  to  college,  and 
Ezekiel  took  his  little  bundle  in  his  hand,  and  sought 
on  foot  the  scene  of  his  preparatory  studies.  In  one 
year  he  joined  his  younger  brother  in  college."  * 

All  honor  to  that  self-denying,  noble  mother,  who, 
for  the  intellectual  improvement  of  her  children, 
would  have  consented  to  the  sale  of  all  the  property, 
and  who  "  decided  the  matter  at  once."  Let  her 
character  ever  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance. 
With  such  mothers,  our  country  will  never  want  for 
able  statesmen.  How  affecting,  too,  is  the  scene  of 
that  night's  interview  between  those  two  brothers, 
talking  and  weeping  about  their  difficulties  and  pros- 
pects till  the  dawn  of  day  —  the  younger  laboring 
to  persuade  the  elder  to  relinquish  the  tilling  of  the 
land,  in  order  to  cultivate  his  own  mind,  and  the 
elder  dwelling  upon  the  obstructions  in  the  way, 
only,  however,  to  hear  a  method  suggested  by  Dan- 
iel, by  which  those  impediments  might  be  removed ! 


*  Lyman's  Memorial. 

14 


202  THE    HIGHEST    COMMENDATION. 

This  attachment  between  these  two  brothers  con- 
tinued through  life.  Ezekiel  being  the  elder,  the 
other  was  accustomed  to  cherish  great  respect  for 
his  opinions.  Daniel  seems  to  have  regarded  the 
approbation  of  Ezekiel  as  a  higher  commendation 
than  the  praises  of  the  multitude.  After  his  splendid 
reply  to  Hayne,  in  the  United  States  Senate,  and 
when  no  language  was  strong  enough  to  give  full 
expression  to  the  admiration  which  it  had  awakened 
throughout  the  land,  he  was  heard  to  say,  "  How  I 
wish  that  my  poor  brother  had  lived  till  after  this 
speech,  that  I  might  know  if  he  would  have  been 
gratified  !  "  He,  on  whose  lips  a  vast  multitude  had 
hung  with  delight,  —  who  had  astonished  the  greatest 
minds  in  the  nation  by  his  wonderful  versatility  of 
talent,  in  which  satire,  pathos,  logical  power,  keen 
analysis,  and  beauty  of  rhetoric,  were  all  combined, 
and  by  means  of  which  an  ingenious  and  graceful 
competitor  was  effectually  overthrown,  in  one  of  the 
most  powerful  intellectual  contests  that  this  or  any 
other  country  has  ever  witnessed,  and  whilst  the 
victor's  enthusiastic  praises  were  on  every  tongue,  — 
his  heart  was  modestly  going  forth  towards  his 
brother,  as  if  his  satisfaction  could  not  be  com- 
plete without  that  brother's  commendation  ! 

And  where,  in    the  history  of  political    literature 
4s  there   a  more   affecting   tribute  of  fraternal    love 
than  in  the  following  dedication  of  the  first  volume 
of  his  speeches  •  — 


FRATERNAL    TRIBUTE.  203. 

"  To  my  Nieces,  Mrs.  Alice  Bridge   Whipple,  and 
Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Sanborn. 

"  Many  of  the  speeches  contained  in  this  volume 
were  delivered  and  printed  in  the  lifetime  of  your 
father,  whose  fraternal  affection  led  him  to  speak 
of  them  with  approbation. 

"  His  death,  which  happened  when  he  had  only 
just  passed  the  middle  period  of  life,  left  you  with- 
out a  father,  and  me  without  a  brother. 

"  I  dedicate  this  volume  to  you,  not  only  for  the 
love  I  have  for  yourselves,  but  also  as  a  tribute  of 
affection  to  his  memory,  and  from  a  desire  that  the 
name  of  my  brother,  Ezekiel  Webster,  may  be  asso- 
ciated with  mine,  so  long  as  any  thing  written  or 
spoken  by  me  shall  be  regarded  or  read. 

.  WEBSTER." 


As  in  early  life  he  resolved  that  his  brother  should 
share  the  benefits  of  education  with  him,  so  in  the 
zenith  of  his  glory  he  desired  to  make  him  a  par- 
ticipant of  his  honors,  by  indissolubly  associating 
their  names  together. 

The  following  characteristic  letter  of  Mr.  Web- 
ster, written  May  3,  1846,  at  Franklin,  New  Hamp- 
shire, contains  some  allusion,  not  only  to  his  brother, 
but  to  other  members  of  his  family,  which  are  beau- 
tifu'ly  illustrative  of  his  affectionate  domestic  attach-* 
ments  :  — 


204  INTERESTING    LETTER. 

"  Sunday,  1  o'clock. 
"  MY  DEAR  SIR  : 

*  I  have  made  satisfactory  arrangements  respect- 
ing the  house,  the  best  of  which  is,  that  I  find  I  can 
leave  it  where  it  is,  (that  is,  the  main  house,)  and 
yet  be  comfortable,  notwithstanding  the  railroad. 
This  saves  a  great  deal  of  expense. 

"This  house  faces  due  north.  Its  front  windows 
look  towards  the  River  Merrimack.  But  then  the 
river  soon  turns  to  the  south,  so  that  the  eastern 
windows  look  towards  the  river  also.  But  the  river 
has  so  deepened  its  channel  in  this  stretch  of  it,  in 
the  last  fifty  years,  that  we  cannot  see  its  water 
without  approaching  it,  or  going  back  to  the  higher 
lands  behind  us.  The  history  of  this  change  is  of 
considerable  importance  in  the  philosophy  of  streams. 
I  have  observed  it  practically,  and  know  something 
of  the  theory  of  the  phenomenon ;  but  I  doubt 
whether  the  world  will  ever  be  benefited  either  by 
my  learning  or  my  observation  in  this  respect. 
Looking  out  at  the  east  windows,  at  this  moment, 
(2  P.  M.,)  with  a  beautiful  sun  just  breaking  out, 
my  eye  sweeps  a  rich  and  level  field  of  one  hundred 
acres.  At  the  end  of  it,  a  third  of  a  mile  off,  I  see 
plain  marble  gravestones,  designating  the  places 
where  repose  my  father,  my  mother,  my  brother 


INTERESTING    LETTER.  205 

Joseph,  and  my  sisters  Mehetabel,  Abigail,  and  Sa- 
rah, good  and  Scripture  names,  inherited  from  their 
Puritan  ancestors. 

"My  father,  Ebenezer  Webster,  born  at  Kings- 
ton, in  the  lower  part  of  the  state,  in  1739,  was 
the  handsomest  man  I  ever  saw,  except  my  brother 
Ezekiel,  who  appeared  to  me  —  and  so  does  he  now 
seem  to  me — the  very  finest  human  form  that  ever 
I  laid  eyes  on.  I  saw  him"  in  his  coffin  —  a  white 
forehead,  a  tinged  cheek,  a  complexion  as  clear  as 
heavenly  light.  But  where  am  I  straying?  The 
grave  has  closed  upon  him,  as  it  has  on  all  my 
brothers  and  sisters.  We  shall  soon  be  all  together. 
But  this  is  melancholy,  and  I  leave  it.  Dear,  dear 
kindred  blood,  how  I  love  you  all! 

"  This  fair  field  is  before  me.  I  could  see  a  lamb 
on  any  part  of  it.  I  have  ploughed  it,  and  raked  it, 
and  hoed  it ;  but  I  never  mowed  it.  Somehow,  I 
could  never  learn  to  hang  a  scythe.  I  had  not  wit 
enough.  My  brother  Joe  used  to  say  that  my  father 
sent  me  to  college  in  order  to  make  me  equal  to  the 
rest  of  the  children  ! 

"  Of  a  hot  day  in  July  —  it  must  have  been  in 
one  of  the  last  years  of  Washington's  administra- 
tion —  I  was  making  hay,  with  my  father,  just  where 
1  now  see  a  remaining  elm  tree.  "  About  the  middle^ 
of  the  afternoon,  the  Honorable  Abiel  Foster,  M.  C., 
who  lived  in  Canterbury,  six  miles  off,  called  at  the 


206  EARLY    RECOLLECTIONS. 

house,  and  came  into  the  field  to  see  my  father 
He  was  a  worthy  man,  college  learned,  and  had 
been  a  minister,  but  was  not  a  person  of  any  con- 
siderable natural  power.  My  father  was  his  friend 
and  supporter.  He  talked  a  while  in  the  field,  and 
went  on  his  way.  When  he  was  gone,  my  father 
called  me  to  him,  and  we  sat  down  beneath  the  elm, 
on  a  haycock.  He  said,  '  My  son,  that  is  a  worthy 
man.  He  is  a  member"  of  Congress.  He  goes  to 
Philadelphia,  and  gets  six  dollars  a  day,  while  I  toil 
here.  It  is  because  he  had  an  education,  which  I 
never  had.  If  I  had  had  his  early  education,  I 
should  have  been  in  Philadelphia  in  his  place. 
I  came  near  it  as  it  was.  But  I  missed  it,  and  now 
I  must  work  here.'  «  My  dear  father,'  said  I,  '  you 
shall  not  work.  Brother  and  I  will  work  for  you, 
and  wear  our  hands  out,  and  you  shall  rest.'  And  I 
remember  to  have  cried,  and  I  cry  now  at  the  recol- 
lection. '  My  child,'  said  he,  '  it  is  of  no  importance 
to  me  ;  I  now  live  but  for  my  children.  I  could  not 
give  your  elder  brother  the  advantages  of  knowl- 
edge, but  I  can  do  something  for  you.  Exert  your- 
self ;  improve  your  opportunities ;  learn,  learn . 
and  when  I  am  gone,  you  will  not  need  to  go 
through  the  hardships  which  I  have  undergone,  and 
which  have  made  me  an  old  man  before  my  time.' 

"  The  next  May  he   took   me    to   Exeter,  to  the 
Phillips    Exeter   Academy,    placed    me     under    the 


FILIAL    LOVE.  207 

tuition  of  its  excellent  preceptor,  Dr.  Benjamin  Ab- 
bott, still  living,  and  from  that  time     . 

"  My  father  died  in  April,  1806.  I  neither  left 
him  nor  forsook  him.  My  opening  an  office  at  Bos- 
cawen  was  that  I  might  be  near  him.  I  closed  his 
eyes  in  this  very  house.  He  died  at  sixty-seven 
years  of  age,  after  a  life  of  exertion,  toil,  and  ex- 
posure —  a  private  soldier,  an  officer,  a  legislator,  a 
judge,  every  thing  that  a  man  could  be  to  whom 
Learning  never  had  disclosed  her  '  ample  page.' 
My  first  speech  at  the  bar  was  made  when  he  was 
on  the  bench.  He  never  heard  me  a  second  time. 
He  had  in  him  what  I  collect  to  have  been  the  char- 
acter of  some  of  the  old  Puritans.  He  was  deeply 
religious,  but  not  sour  ;  on  the  contrary,  good  hu- 
mored, facetious ;  sharing,  even  in  his  age,  with  a 
"contagious  laugh  ;  teeth  all  as  white  as  alabaster ; 
gentle,  soft,  playful ;  and  yet  having  a  heart  in  him 
that  he  seemed  to  have  borrowed  from  a  lion.  He 
could  frown,  —  a  frown  it  was,  —  but  cheerfulness, 
good  humor,  and  smiles  composed  his  most  usual 
aspect 

'  Ever  truly  yours,  &c., , 

"  DANIEL  WEBSTER." 

How  touching  is  the  allusion  to  Ezekiel  !  "  a 
white  forehead,  a  tinged  cheek,  a  complexion  clear 
as  heaven's  light.  The  grave  has  closed  upon  him 


208  TOUCHING    ALLUSIONS. 

as  it  has  upon  all  my  brothers  and  sisters.  We  shall 
soon  all  be  together.  Dear,  dear  kindred  blood,  hoto 
I  loved  you  all !  " 

And  then  his  reference  to  his  father :  "  My  father 
died.  I  neither  left  him  nor  forsook  him.  /  closed 
his  eyes." 

During  the  presidential  campaign  of  1840,  the 
opponents  of  General  Harrison  sneered  at  him  be- 
cause he  was  born  in  a  log  cabin.  This  gave  occa- 
sion for  the  following  outburst  of  moving  eloquence 
from  Mr.  Webster,  in  which  there  are  other  af- 
fecting allusions  to  his  father. 

"  Gentlemen,  it  did  not  happen  to  me  to  be  born 
in  a  log  cabin ;  but  my  elder  brothers  and  sisters 
were  born  in  a  log  cabin,  raised  amid  the  snowdrifts 
of  New  Hampshire,  at  a  period  so  early  as  that, 
when  the  smoke  first  rose  from  its  rude  chimney, 
and  curled  over  the  frozen  hills,  there  was  no  simi- 
lar evidence  of  a  white  man's  habitation  between  it 
and  the  settlements  on  the  rivers  of  Canada.  Its 
remains  still  exist.  I  make  to  it  an  annual  visit.  I 
carry  my  children  to  it,  to  teach  them  the  hardships 
endured  by  the  generations  which  have  gone  before 
them.  I  love  to  dwell  on  the  tender  recollections, 
the  kindred  ties,  the  early  affections,  and  the  touch- 
ing narrations  and  incidents,  which  mingle  with  all 
I  know  of  this  primitive  family  abode.  I  weep 
to  think  that  none  of  those  who  inhabited  it  are  now 


DEDICATIONS.  209 

among  the  living ;  and  if  ever  I  am  ashamed  of  it, 
or  if  I  ever  fail  in  affectionate  veneration  for  HIM 
who  raised  it  and  defended  it  against  savage  violence 
and  destruction,  cherished  all  the  domestic  virtues  be 
neath  its  roof,  and  through  the  fire  and  blood  of  a 
seven  years'  revolutionary  war,  shrunk  from  no  dan- 
ger, no  toil,  no  sacrifice  to  serve  his  country,  and  to 
raise  his  children  to  a  condition  better  than  his  own, 
may  my  name,  and  the  name  of  my  posterity,  be 
blotted  forever  from  the  memory  of  mankind." 

The  same  delicate  sensibility  was  evinced  by  Mr. 
Webster  in  the  dedications  of  the  last  five  volumes 
of  his  works.  It  is  appropriate,  therefore,  that  they 
be  inserted  here  as  illustrative  of  an  interesting  fea 
ture  of  his  character. 

Second  Volume. 
"  To  ISAAC  P.  DAVIS,  Esq. 

"  My  dear  Sir :  A  warm  private  friendship  has 
subsisted  between  us  for  half  our  lives,  interrupted 
by  no  untoward  occurrence,  and  never  for  a  moment 
cooling  into  indifference.  Of  -this  friendship,  the 
source  of  so  much  happiness  to  me,  I  wish  to  leave, 
if  not  an  enduring  memorial,  at  least  an  affectionate 
and  grateful  acknowledgment.  I  inscribe  this 
volume  to  you. 

"DANIEL  WEBSTER." 


210  DEDICATIONS. 

Third    Volume. 
**Ta  MRS.  CAROLINE  LE  ROT  WEBSTER. 

"  My  dearly-beloved  Wife  :  I  cannot  allow  these 
volumes  to  go  to  the  press  without  containing  a 
tribute  of  my  affection,  and  some  acknowledgment 
of  the  deep  interest  that  you  have  felt  in  the  pro- 
ductions which  they  contain.  You  have  witnessed 
the  origin  of  most  of  them,  not  with  less  concern, 
certainly,  than  has  been  felt  by  their  author ; 
and  the  degree  of  favor  with  which  they  may  now 
be  received  by  the  public  will  be  as  earnestly  re- 
garded, I  am  sure,  by  you  as  by  myself.  The  op- 
portunity seems  also  a  fit  one  for  expressing  the  high 
and  warm  regard  which  I  ever  entertained  for  your 
honored  father,  now  deceased,  and  the  respect  and 
esteem  which  I  cherish  towards  the  members  of  that 
amiable  and  excellent  family  to  which  you  belong. 

"DANIEL  WEBSTER." 

Fourth   Volume. 
"To  FLETCHER  WEBSTER,  Esq. 

"  My  dear  Sir :  I  dedicate  one  of  the  volumes 
of  these  speeches  to  the  memory  of  your  deceased 
brother  and  sister,  and  I  am  devoutly  thankful  that 
I  am  able  to  inscribe  another  volume  to  you,  my 
only  surviving  child,  and  the  object  of  my  affection 
and  hopes.  You  have  been  of  an  age,  at  the 
appearance  of  most  of  these  speeches  and  writings, 


DEDICATIONS.  211 

at  which  you  were  able  to  read  and  understand 
them  ;  and  in  the  preparation  of  some  of  them  you 
have  taken  no  unimportant  part.  Among  the  diplo- 
matic papers,  there  are  several  written  by  yourself 
wholly  or  mainly,  at  the  time  when  official  and  con- 
fidential connections  subsisted  between  us  in  the  de- 
partment of  state.  The  principles  and  opinions 
expressed  in  these  productions  are  such  as  I  believe 
to  be  essential  to  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  the 
maintenance  of  the  Constitution,  and  the  advance- 
ment of  the  country  to  still  higher  stages  of  pros- 
perity and  renown.  These  objects  have  constituted 
my  polestar  during  the  whole  of  my  political  life, 
which  has  now  extended  through  more  than  half  the 
period  of  the  existence  of  the  government.  And  I 
know,  my  dear  son,  that  neither  parental  authority 
nor  parental  example  is  necessary  to  induce  you,  in 
whatever  capacity,  public  or  private,  you  may  be 
called  to  act,  to  devote  yourself  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  same  ends. 

"YOUR    AFFECTIONATE    FATHER."     ' 

Fifth  Volume. 
«To  J.  W.  PAIGE,  ESQ. 

"My  dear  Sir  :  The  friendship  which  has  subsisted 
so  long  between  us,  springs  not  more  from  our  close 
family  connections  than  from  similarity  of  opinions 
and  sentiments.  I  count  it  among  the  advantages 


212  DEDICATIONS. 


and  pleasures  of  my  life,  and  pray  you  to  allow  me 
as  a  slight,  but  grateful  token  of  my  estimate  of  it, 
to  dedicate  to  you  this  volume  of  my  speeches. 

"  DANIEL  WEBSTER." 

f 

Sixth  Volume. 

"  With  the  warmest  parental  affection,  mingled  with 
afflicted  feelings,  I  dedicate  this  the  last  volume  of 
my  works  to  the  memory  of  my  deceased  children, 
Julia  Webster  Appleton,  beloved  in  all  the  relations 
of  daughter,  wife,  mother,  sister,  and  friend ;  and 
Major  Edward  Webster,  who  died  in  Mexico,  in  the 
military  service  of  the  United  States,  with  unblem- 
ished honor  and  reputation,  and  who  entered  the 
service  solely  from  a  desire  to  be  useful  to  his  coun- 
try, and  do  honor  to  the  state  in  which  he  was  born. 

" '  Go,  gentle  spirits,  to  your  destined  rest ; 
While  I  —  reversed  our  nature's  kindlier  doom, 
Pour  forth  a  father's  sorrow  on  your  tomb.' 

"DANIEL  WEBSTER." 

Over  Mr.  Webster's  farm  at  Marshfield  are  scat- 
tered numerous  trees,  many  of  which  have  a  history 
that  associates  them  directly  with  Jihe  owner  of  the 
estate ;  among  these  are  two  small  elms,  which 
stand  immediately  in  front  of  the  mansion.  They 
were  planted  there  for  a  special  purpose,  under  the 
following  circumstances :  one  day,  after  Mr.  Web- 
ster had  been  absent  from  the  house  for  some 


MEMENTOES.  213 

time,  he  was  seen  returning  with  two  small 
trees,  and  the  shovel  with  which  he  had  removed 
them.  Calling  for  his  son,  Fletcher,  he  conducted 
him  to  the  front  of  the  house,  and,  after  digging 
the  holes  and  planting  the  trees  without  assist- 
ance, he  turned  to  his  son,  and  said,  in  a  subdued 
tone  of  voice,  "  My  son,  protect  these  trees  after  1 
am  gone ;  let  them  ever  remind  you  of  Julia  and  Ed- 
ward." In  the  presence  of  his  only  surviving  child 
he  planted  those  trees,  as  living  monuments  to  the 
memory  of  the  two  who  had  departed. 

Step,  now,  into  the  house,  and,  amongst  the  many 
objects  of  interest  which  will  there  be  seen  is  a 
small  profile  cut  in  black,  elegantly  framed,  with  a 
single  line  in  Mr.  Webster's  own  writing :  — 

"  MY    EXCELLENT    MOTHER. 

«D.  W." 

We  venture  the  prediction  that  that  modest  pro- 
file will  awaken  in  the  breasts  of  the  Marshfield  vis- 
itors far  deeper  and  tenderer  emotions  than  many 
of  the  more  costly  and  showy  articles  which  may 
there  be  seen. 

In  one  of  his  letters  to  that  "  true  nan,"  John 
Taylor,  who  had  charge  of  Elms  Farm,  he  gave 
him  a  strict  charge  to  take  care  of  his  mother's  gar- 
den, though  it  required  the  labor  of  one  man. 

Mr.  Webster  provided,    n  Marshfield,  and  not  far 


t 

214  THE    FAMILY   CEMETERY. 


from  his  residence,  a  family  cemetery.  It  is  upon 
the  summit  of  a  hill,  from  which  may  be  seen,  on 
one  side,  a  wide  extent  of  country,  embracing, 
amongst  other  interesting  objects,  the  site  of  the 
old  church,  —  the  first  ever  erected  in  the  town,  — 
and  the  ocean,  rolling  its  blue  waves  in  ceaseless 
sublimity  to  -the  shore. 

On  one  of  his  last  visits  to  this  sacred  spot,  he 
was  accompanied  by  Mr.  Lanman.  They  approached 
the  place  in  silent  reverence,  and,  whilst  standing 
there,  Mr.  Webster,  pointing  to  the  tomb  and  the 
enclosed  green  spot,  said,  in  a  deliberate  and  im 
pressive  manner,  — 

"  This  will  be  my  home  ;  and  here  three   monu 
ments  will  soon  be  erected  —  one  for  the  mother  of 
my  children,  one  each   for  Julia   and   Edward,  and 
there  will  be  plenty  of  room   in  front  for  the  little 
ones  that  must  follow  them." 

These  were  the  only  words  he  uttered.  They 
were  enough  to  indicate  the  current  of  his  thoughts 
and  feelings.  He  was  thinking,  with  tender  interest, 
of  the  dead  and  of  the  living,  —  of  those  who  had 
gone,  and  of  those  who  were  to  follow,  —  not  for- 
getting himself.  "  This  will  be  my  home."  Alas  ! 
how  soon  was  this  verified  !  The  monuments  to 
which  he  referred  are  now  there.  They  are  simple 
columns,  with  granite  bases  and  marble  caps,  con- 
taining the  following  inscriptions  :  — 


MONUMENTAL    INSCRIPTIONS.  215 


Y  "  ©trace 

Wife  of  DANIEL  WEBSTER  : 

Bora  January  16,  1781  ; 

Died  January  21,  1828. 

Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  Gfod." 


"5ulfa 

Wife  of 

SAMUEL  APPLETON  APPLETON  t 
Born  January  16,  1818  ; 

Died  April  18,  1848. 
Let  me  go,  for  the  day  breaketh." 


".Ptafor  lEtifoarfc  KSJebster: 

Born  July  28,  1820 ; 

Died  at  San  Angel,  in  Mexico, 

In  the  military  service  of  his  country, 

January  23,  1848. 
A  dearly  beloved  son  and  brother." 

Over  the  door  of  the  tomb  is  a  plain  marble  slab, 
oft  which  is  inscribed,  in  bold,  deep  letters,  the 
name  of 

"DANIEL  WEBSTER." 

1 

We  see,  from  the  above  facts,  that  intellectual 
greatness  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  delicate  sensi- 
bility. A  man  may,  at  one  time,  hold  a  nation  spell- 
bound by  his  eloquence,  or  in  senates,  or  with  for- 
eign ambassadors,  be  discussing,  in  the  profoundest 
manner,  the  most  intricate  questions  of  international 


216  "THE    MEMORY    OF    THE    HEART." 

law,  and  at  another  time  may  be  giving  exercise,  in 
the  most  delicate  manner,  to  the  tenderest  sentiments 
of  affection.  There  is  nothing  unmanly  in  the 
strongest  attachment,  even  though  it  finds  >ts  ex- 
pression in  a  tear. 

When  Mr.  Webster  was  in  England,  he  wrote  the 
following  .lines,  in  which  he  doubtless  refers  to  his 
own  experience  of 

"THE  MEMORY  OF  THE  HEART. 

"  If  stores  of  dry  and  learned  lore  we  gain, 
We  keep  them  in  the  memory  of  the  brain  ; 
Names,  things,  and  facts  —  whate'er  we  knowledge  call, 
There  is  the  common  leger  for  them  all ; 
And  images  on  this  cold  surface  traced 
Make  slight  impressions,  and  are  soon  effaced. 

''  But  we've  a  page  more  glowing  and  more  bright, 
On  which  our  friendship  and  our  love  to  write  5 
That  these  may  never  from  the  soul  depart, 
We  trust  them  to  the  memory  of  the  heart. 
There  is  no  dimming — no  effacement  bete  ; 
Each  new  pulsation  keeps  the  record  clear; 
Warm,  golden  letters  all  the  tablet  fill, 
Nor  lose  their  lustre  till  the  heart  stands  still 
"  LONDON,  November  19, 1839." 


CHAPTER    XII. 

Mr.  Webster  s  Mirthfiilness.  —  A  playfu  Letter.  —  Mr..  Choate's 
Pathos.  —  Webster's  practical  Joke. --Mr.  Choate's  poor  Writ- 
ing. —  Effect  of  the  Joke.  —  Mr.  Webster's  Trout  Law.  — 
«  That  ain't  the  Worst  of  it."  —  Amusing  Contrast.  —  The  Sen- 
ate interrupted.  —  Webster  and  the  Buckeyes.  —  "  Old  Web- 
ster" and  the  sporting  Snobs.  —  Appearances  deceptive. — 
Webster's  Wit.  —  Amusing  Reply.  —  "  Venerable  "  Trout.  — 
Effect  of  Cheerfulness.  —  Webster's  Spelling  Book. 

To  see  Mr.  Webster  in  some  grave  debate,  or 
when  pleading  an  important  case  before  a  jury,  an 
individual  might  infer,  from  the  dignity  and  serious- 
ness of  his  manner,  that  cheerfulness  was  not  an 
element  of  his  nature.  Nothing  could  be  farther 
from  the  truth.  Among  the  strata  which  entered 
into  the  composition  of  his  character  was  a  vein  of 
mirthfulness,  that  ofttimes  cropped  out  above  the  sur- 
face of  his  habitual  gravity,  revealing  the  rich  stores 
that  were  concealed  beneath.  Sometimes  this  play- 
ful humor  was  mingled  with  his  professional  duties. 
It  is  conspicuous  in  the  first  part  of  his  great  reply 
to  Hayne. 

On  one  occasion  he  conducted  a  case  in  Boston, 
before  the  Circuit  Court,  having  reference  to  the 
violation  of  some  patent  for  a  wheel.  Whilst  the 
15  217 


218  WEBbl'ER'S    MIRTHFULNESS. 

case  was  in  progress,  he  wrote  the  following  letter 
to  a  friend,  who  says  of  it,  "  The  letter  is  not,  of 
course,  written  for  the  public  eye  ;  but  I  have  per- 
mission to  use  it,  and  make  extracts  from  it.  You 
will  see,  from  its  half  serious  and  half  ironical  char- 
acter, how  playful  he  can  be,  even  while  sitting  at 
the  bar,  waiting  for  his  turn  to  be  heard  in  a  cause. 
He  speaks  of  himself  in  it  as  he  supposes  others 
will  speak  of  him.  To  show  you  that  he  is  not  al- 
ways cold  and  unbending,  I  will  give  you  an  extract 
from  the  letter."  The  following  is  the  extract :  — 

"  BOSTON,  Jan.  15,  '49  —  Monday,  12  o'clock, 
In  C.  Court,  United  States. 

"  Harcy  vs.  Sizer  being  on  trial,  and  Tabero  dicente  in  longum  ;* 
and  another  snow  storm  appearing  to  be  on  the  wing. 

"  MY  DEAR  SIR  :  We  are  in  court  yet,  and  so 
shall  be  some  days  longer.  We  have  the  evidence 
in,  and  a  discussion  on  the  law,  preliminary  to  our 
summing  up,  is  now  going  on.  I  think  it  will  con- 
s.imie  the  remainder  of  this  day,  if  it  lasts  no  longer. 
Mr.  Choate  will  speak  to-morrow,  and  I  close  im- 
mediately after. 

"  I  am  afraid  my  luck  is  always  bad,  and  I  fear 
is  always  to  be  so."  .  .  .  Here  Mr.  Webster 
speaks  of  what  he  expects,  and  about  which  he  fears 
he  may  be  disappointed,  and  the  consequences  of 
it  He  then  goes  on  to  say,  — 

*  Taber  making  a  long  plea. 


A    HUMOROUS    LETTER.  219 

"  It  will  be  said,  or  may  be  said,  hereafter,  Mr. 
Webster  wa.s  a  laborious  man  in  his  profession  and 
other  pui  suits.  He  never  tasted  of  the  bread  of 
idleness.  His  profession  yielded  him,  at  some  times, 
large  amounts  of  income  ;  but  he  seems  never  to 
have  aimed  at  accumulation,  and  perhaps  was  not 
justly  sensible  of  the  importance  and  duty  of  preser- 
vation. Riches  were  never  before  his  eyes  as  a  lead- 
ing object  of  regard.  When  young  and  poor,  he 
was  more  earnest  in  struggling  for  eminence  than 
in  efforts  for  making  money  ;  and  in  after  life,  rep- 
utation, public  regard,  and  usefulness  in  high  pur- 
suits, mainly  engrossed  his  attention.  He  always 
said,  also,  that  he  was  never  destined  to  be  rich  ; 
that  no  such  star  presided  over  his  birth  ;  that  he 
never  obtained  any  thing  by  any  attempts  or  efforts 
out  of  the  line  of  his  profession  ;  that  his  friends, 
on  several  occasions,  induced  him  to  take  an  inter- 
est in  business  operations ;  that,  as  often  as  he  did 
so,  loss  resulted,  till  he  used  to  say,  vhen  spoken  to 
on  such  subjects,  '  Gentlemen,  if  you  have  any  pro- 
jects for  money-making,  I  pray  you  keep  me  out  of 
them  ;  my  singular  destiny  mars  every  thing  of  that 
sort,  and  would  be  sure  to  overwhelm  your  own 
better  fortunes.'  "  After  this  he  says,  — 

"  Mr.  Webster  was  the  author  of  that  short  biog- 
raphy of  most  good  lawyers,  which  has  been  ascribed 
to  other  sources,  viz.,  that  they  '•lived  well,  worked 
hard,  and  died  poor."1  " 


220  WEBSTER'S  POETRY. 

And  in  the  same  letter  he  tells  the  following  an- 
ecdote of  himself:  — 

Sitting  one  day  at  the  bar  in  Portsmouth,  with  an 
elderly  member  of  the  bar,  his  friend,  who  enjoyed 
with  sufficient  indulgence  that  part  of  a  lawyer's  lot 
which  consists  "  in  living  well,"  Mr.  Webster  made 
an  epitaph,  which  would  not  be  unsuitable  :  — 

''  Natus  consumere  fruges ; 
Frugibus   consumptis, 
Hie  jacet 
k.  C.  S."  * 

At  the  close  of  the  letter,  he  added  the  following 
postscript,  relative  to  the  case  on  trial  :  — 

"  Half  past  2  o'clock  —  Cessat  Taber  ;  Choate  &&• 
quitur,  in  questions  juris,  crastino  die.  t 

"  Taber  is  learned,  sharp  and  dry  ; 
Choate  full  of  fancy,  soaring  high  ; 
Both  lawyers  of  the  best  report, 
True  to  their  clients  and  the  court ; 
What  sorrow  doth  a  Christian  feel, 
Both  should  be  '  broken  on  a  wheel  !  '  " 

The  same  gentleman  says,  "  I  have  many  letters 
like  this,  and  I  have  always  found. him,  throughout 
all  my  travelling,  sojourning,  and  sports  with  him, 
one  of  the  most  agreeable  men,  one  of  the  most 
amiable  and  playful  I  ever  met  with.  No  one  has 

*  Being  born  to  eat  fruit ;  and  having  consumed  all,  here  lies 
K.  C.  S. 

t  Tabei  ceases ;  Choate  follows,  on  the  question  of  equity,  to 
IT.  >rrow 


WEBSTER    AND    CHOATE.  221 

known  him  more  intimately,  or  has  seen  him  oftener, 
under  every  variety  of  circumstances,  for  fifteen 
years." 

We  were  in  the  Circuit  Court  in  Boston  on  a  simi- 
lar, perhaps  on  the  very  same  occasion,  when  he 
and  Mr.  Choate  were  pitted  against  each  other  in  a 
case  in  which  the  violation  of  a  patent  for  the  pro- 
tection of  a  new  kind  of  wheel  for  rail  cars  was  the 
question  at  issue.  Mr.  Choate,  after  pleading  nearly 
three  days,  closed  with  a  very  pathetic  appeal  to  the 
sympathies  of  the  jury  in  behalf  of  his  client.  He 
begged  them  to  consider  the  condition  of  his  client, 
and  the  effect  which  would  be  produced  upon  him 
and  his  family  if  their  verdict  was  against  him.  The 
peroration  produced  a  decided  impression. 

Mr.  Webster  was  to  follow  immediately.  It  was 
his  first  object  to  dispel  the  effect  of  Mr.  Choate's 
closing  appeal.  This  he  did  most  effectually  by  a 
practical  joke,  which  produced  a  sensation  of  hilari- 
ty throughout  the  whole  court  room.  To  appre- 
ciate its  point,  it  should  be  known  that  a  short  time 
prior  to  this  trial,  Mr.  Choate  had  been  invited  to 
give  an  address  on  some  public  occasion  in  a  distant 
town.  When  his  reply  reached  the  committee  from 
whom  he  had  received  the  invitation,  such  was  the 
peculiarity  of  the  chirography,  or  so  badly  was  the 
reply  written,  that  none  of  them  could  read  it. 
They  were  obliged  to  send  for  some  one  well  skilled 


22;i  CHOATE'S  HANDWRITING. 

in  deciphering  difficult  penmanship  to  translate  the 
document.  This  anecdote  was  at  that  very  time 
going  the  rounds  of  the  papers.  It  had  been  read 
by  many,  if  not  by  all,  in  the  court  room.  After  Mr. 
Choate  had  finished  his  plea,  and  had  gone  away 
from  the  table,  where  he  had  left  his  brief,  or  outline 
of  argument,  which  was  written  on  a  number  of 
loose  sheets  of  paper,  Mr.  Webster,  after  a  moment's 
whisper  with  his  distinguished  opponent,  took  up 
these  loose  sheets,  and  turning  to  the  spectators,  said, 
in  a  very  gentlemanly  manner,  "  Ladies,  would  you 
like  to  see  a  specimen  of  Mr.  Choate's  writing  1  " 
and  then  with  his  own  hands  distributed  them  among 
the  audience.  This  ingenious  ruse  was  successful. 
The  general  burst  of  laughter,  and  the  universal  rush 
and  scrambling  after  Mr.  Choate's  hieroglyphics, 
which  were  flying  like  mammoth  snow  flakes  about 
the  room,  effectually  dispelled  the  tender,  sympathet- 
ic emotions  which  had  been  awakened  by  the  mov- 
ing peroration  of  his  plea.  The  mirthfiilness  did 
not  immediately  subside.  As  each  individual  who 
obtained  a  piece  of  the  mysterious  paper  looked  upon 
it,  his  countenance  was  immediately  wreathed  in 
smiles.  We  were  successful  in  obtaining  a  sheet, 
and,  tearing  it  in  two,  gave  half  of  it  to  a  lady,  who 
seemed  to  be  as  anxious  for  an  autograph  as  our- 
selves. Upon  casting  our  eye  upon  it,  we  had  no 
difficulty  in  discovering  the  cause  of  the  pleasantry 


MR.  WEBSTER'S  PRACTICAL  JOKE.          223 

which  all  seemed  to  experience.  True,  there  were 
on  the  paper  plenty  of  lines,  curves  and  angles ;  hut 
how  to  put  them  together  so  as  to  make  out  a  single 
sentence  we  found  impossible.  We  no  longer  w-on- 
dered  at  the  continued  tittering  of  the  audience. 

While  his  brief  was  flying  around  among  the  au- 
dience, Mr.  Choate  was  standing  by  the  stove,  with 
his  back  to  the  spectators.  A  friend  stepped  up  to 
him,  and,  we  presume,  told  him  what  was  going  on. 
He  looked  around,  and  when  he  saw  how  the  audi- 
ence were  employed,  he  stroked  his  chin,  smiled, 
and  turned  again  towards  the  stove,  apparently  en- 
joying the  joke  as  highly  as  any. 

As  another  specimen  of  Mr  Webster's  pleasantry, 
we  refer  to  a  passage  in  a  speech  which  he  gave  at 
Syracuse  :  — 

"  It  has  so  happened  that  all-  the  public  services 
which  I  have  rendered  to  the  world,  in  my  day  and 
generation,  have  been  connected  with  the  general  gov- 
ernment. I  think  I  ought  to  make  an  exception.  I 
was  ten  days  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  legisla- 
ature,  [laughter,]  and  I  turned  my  thoughts  to  the 
search  of  some  good  object  in  which  I  could  be  useful 
in  that  position  ;  and  after  much  reflection,  I  intro- 
duced a  bill,  which,  with  the  general  consent  of  both, 
houses  of  the  Massachusetts  legislature,  passed  into 
a  law,  and  is  now  a  law  of  the  state,  which  enacts 
that  no  man  in  the  state  shall  catch  trout  in  any 


•224  MR.  WEBSTER'S  PLEASANTRY. 

other  manner  than  in  the  old  way,  with  an  ordinary 
hook  and  line.  [Great  laughter.]  With  that  ex- 
ception, I  never  was  connected  for  an  hour  with  any 
state  government  in  my  life.  I  never  held  office, 
high  or  low,  under  any  state  government.  Perhaps 
that  was  my  misfortune. 

"  At  the  age  of  thirty,  I  was  in  New  Hampshire 
practising  law,  and  had  some  clients.  John  Taylor 
Gilman,  who  for  fourteen  years  was  governor  of  the 
state,  thought  that,  a  young  man  as  I  was,  I  might 
be  fit  to  be  an  attorney  general  of  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  he  nominated  me  to  the  council ; 
and  the  council  taking  it  into  their  deep  considera- 
tion, and  not  happening  to  be  of  the  same  politics 
as  the  governor  and  myself,  voted,  three  out  of  five, 
that  I  was  not  competent ;  and  very  likely  they  were 
right.  [Laughter.]  So  you  see,  gentlemen,  I  nevei 
gained  promotion  in  any  state  government." 

The  New  York  Daily  Times  relates  the  following, 
which  is  a  kind  of  practical  joke  upon  Mr.  Webster 
himself:  — 

"  Some  years  ago  he  started  off  from  Marshfield 
on  a  trouting  expedition  to  Sandwich,  a  neighbor- 
ing town  on  Cape  Cod.  On  approaching  a  fine 
stream,  he  alighted  from  his  wagon  ;  and  just  then 
he  met  the  owner  of  the  farm,  whose  stream  ran 
through  it.  '  Good  morning,'  says  Webster ;  '  is 
there  any  trout  here  1 '  «  Well,'  says  the  farmer, 


THE    JOKER   JOKED.  225 

1  some  people  fish  here,  but  I  don't  know  what  they 
do  get.'  '  I'll  throw  my  line  in,'  says  Webster, 
4  and  see  what  there  is.' 

"  Webster  walked  the  banks  of  the  stream,  trying 
his  luck,  and  the  old  farmer  followed  him.  Soon 
Webster  remarked,  'You  have  some  bog  on  your 
farm.'  «  Yes,'  says  the  farmer  ;  * that  ain't  the  worst 
of  it.'  Fishing  still  farther  along,  Webster  says, 
'  You  seem  to  have  plenty  of  mosquitoes  here.' 
«  Yes,'  he  replied,  '  that  ain't  the  worst  of  it.'  Web- 
ster still  kept  on  throwing  his  line  into  the  deep 
pools,  and  then  said,  '  You  have  plenty  of  briers 
here.'  « Yes,'  says  the  farmer,  «  and  that  ain't  the 
worst  of  it.'  Mr.  Webster,  getting  somewhat  dis- 
couraged, in  a  hot  August  day,  bitten  by  mos'quitoes, 
scratched  by  briers,  and  not  raising  a  single  fish, 
dropped  his  rod,  and  said,  '  he  didn't  believe  there 
was  any  trout  here.'  '  And  that  ain't  the  worst  of 
it,'  says  the  farmer.  '  Well,'  says  Mr.  Webster, 
« I  would  like  to  know  what  the  worst  of  it  is.1 
1  There  never  was  any  here  ! '  says  the  farmer.  Mr. 
Webster  enjoyed  the  joke,  and  often  told  it  to  his 
particular  friends." 

In  1841,  when  he  was  secretary  of  state,  he  came 
home  from  the  department,  where  he  had  been  en- 
gaged in  official  interviews  with  foreign  ministers, 
and  taking  from  his  parlor  a  small  basket,  very  ele- 
gantly ornamented,  he  immediately  left  the  house. 


226  MR.    WEBSTER    BUYING    EGGS. 

After  an  absence  of  half  an  hour,  he  returned,  and 
handed  Mrs.  Webster  the  same  basket,  but  with  its 
weight  greatly  increased.  Imagine  her  surprise, 
when,  as  she  looked  in,  she  found  it  Jilled  with 
hens'  eggs.  Feeling,  perhaps,  a  little  mortified 
that  her  distinguished  companion  should  descend  to 
so  inappropriate  an  employment,  she  inquired  the 
reason  of  his  conduct.  Her  husband  replied,  that 
he  had  been  "  all  the  morning  discussing  with  the 
diplomatic  corps  the  affairs  of  some  half  dozen  of 
the  principal  kingdoms  of  the  world,  and,  as  he  was 
fond  of  seeing  both  ends  meet,  he  only  wished  to 
realize  how  it  would  seem  for  him,  a  secretary  of 
state,  to  turn  from  such  imposing  business  to  the 
opposite  extreme,  of  purchasing,  within  the  same 
hour,  a  basket  of  newly-laid  eggs." 

On  one  occasion,  many  years  ago,  when  Mr.  Web- 
ster was  in  the  Senate,  just  as  he  arose  to  speak,  a 
ministerial-looking  stranger  in  the  gallery  suddenly 
cried  out,  so  as  to  be  heard  by  the  whole  Senate, 
"  My  friends,  the  country  is  on  the  brink  of  destruc- 
tion ;  be  sure  that  you  act  on  correct  principles.  I 
warn  you  to  act  as  your  consciences  may  approve. 
God  is  looking  down  upon  you,  and  if  you  act  upon 
correct  principles,  you  will  get  safely  through." 
Having  thus  discharged  what  he  probably  regarded 
as  a  responsible  duty,  he  stepped  back,  and  quietly 
disappeared,  without  giving  the  officers  time  to  seize 


HIS    SKILL    IN    RIFtE    SHOOTING.  227 

.him.  Of  course  such  an  unlooked-for  interruption 
threw  the  Senate  into  confusion.  Some  laughed, 
some  conversed  jestingly  with  each  other,  some  left 
their  seats,  and  several  minutes  elapsed  before  the 
chairman  succeeded  in  restoring  order.  During  all 
the  excitement  Mr.  Webster  retained  his  standing 
posture,  ready  to  commence  so  soon  as  the  oppor- 
tunity should  be  presented.  The  favorable  moment 
having  arrived,  the  first  sentence  he  uttered  was 
this  :  "  As  the  gentleman  in  the  gallery  has  concluded, 
I  will  proceed  vnth  my  remarks."  How  much  better 
was  this  pleasantry  than  though  he  had  indulged  in 
an  outburst  of  passion  at  the  disturbance,  and  in- 
sisted that  the  gallery  should  be  cleared  of  spec- 
tators !  • 

Mr.  Webster  was  good  at  a  rifle  shot,  as  well  as 
with  hook  and  fly.  When  travelling  through  the 
State  of  Ohio,  a  number  of  years  ago,  in  company 
with  a  friend,  he  came  upon  a  party  of  Buckeye 
farmers,  who  were  testing  their  skill  in  the  use  of 
the  gun,  by  firing  at  a  target  for  turkeys.  Having 
reined  in  his  horses,  for  the  purpose  of  enjoying  the 
sport  as  a  spectator,  he  was  invited  by  the  free-and- 
easy  marksmen  to  try  his  skill.  He  was  not  unwill- 
ing to  comply.  It  was  an  amusement  with  which 
he  was  familiar.  After  examining  several  rifles,  in 
a  manner  which  evinced  his  acquaintance  with  the 
instrument,  he  selected  one  of  the  best,  and,  with 


228  HIS    DINNER    WITH    THE    BUCKEYES. 

the  motley  group  of  rough-looking  western  farmers 
standing  around  him,  he  raised  the  weapon  to  his 
eye,  and  in  a  moment  sent  a  ball  directly  through 
the  centre  of  the  target.  He  was  acknowledged  a 
good  shot,  and  had  one  of  the  finest  turkeys  in  the 
flock  presented  to  him.  Then  the  questions  went 
round,  "  Who  is  this  ?  Where's  he  from  ?  What's 
his  business  ?  Where  is  he  going  1  "  But  no  sat- 
isfaction could  they  obtain.  They  finally  invited 
him  to  dine  with  them  at  an  inn  near  by.  He  con- 
sented. Their  curiosity  being  highly  excited  to 
learn  who  this  skilful  marksman  was,  his  friend  took 
the  liberty  of  introducing  him  at  the  dinner  as  the 
Hon.  Daniel  Webster,  member  of  Congress.  Great 
was  their  pleasurable  astonishment  to  learn  that  their 
stranger  guest  was  the  distinguished  individual  wlio 
had  recently  delivered  a  famous  speech  in  Congress, 
of  which  they  had  heard,  and  some  of  them  had 
read.  As  he  had  discoursed  so  effectively  from  the 
rifle's  mouth,  they  wanted  to  hear  some  words  of 
eloquence  fall  from  his  own.  He  was,  therefore, 
called  out,  —  perhaps  by  one  of  the  party  giving  a 
toast  in  his  honor.  In  responding  to  the  call,  he 
addressed  to  them  a  few  appropriate  remarks,  and 
then  proceeded  on  his  journey.  They  earnestly  en- 
deavored to  induce  him  to  fire  another  rifle ;  but  he 
was  too  wise  to  incur  the  liability  of  losing  their 
good  opinion  of  his  skill  by  attempting  a  second 


WKBSTKR  AND  THE 


HIS    ADVENTURE    WITH    THE    SNOBS.  229 

"  crack  shot."  Not  only  did  he  put  a  ball  through 
the  centre  of  the  target,  but  succeeded  in  making 
so  favorable  an  impression  upon* their  hearts,  that 
some  of  them  accompanied  him  twenty  miles  on  his 
journey. 

This  incog,  character  was  the  occasion  of  another 
adventure,  but  of  a  somewhat  different  nature. 
When  in  company,  Mr.  Webster  always  dressed 
like  a  gentleman ;  but  when  on  his  farm,  or  on  a 
fishing  or  gunning  excursion,  his  costume  was  char- 
acterized for  its  appropriateness.  He  could  be  mis- 
taken for  no  other  character  than  the  one  he  had 
assumed.  In  his  gunning  or  fishing  toggery,  no 
stranger  would  suspect  him  of  being  any  thing  more 
than  he  seemed.  On  one  occasion  he  was  out  after 
wild  ducks,  in  company  with  his  man,  Seth  Peter- 
son, when  they  fell  in  with  "  a  couple  of  Boston 
sporting  snobs,"  who  were  in  difficulty  because  there 
was  a  bog  in  the  way,  which  they  could  not  cross 
without  getting  wet.  Judging  of  Mr.  Webster  from 
his  costume^,  they  supposed  him  -  to  be  one  of  the 
rustic  farmers  of  Marshfield,  and  therefore  asked 
him  to  carry  them  on  his  back  to  a  dry  point  on  the 
other  side  of  the  bog.  Without  revealing  himself 
to  them,  Mr.  Webster  consented.  After  he  had 
complied  with  their  request,  and  had  received  from 
each  of  them  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  for  the  job,  they 
inquired,  in  a  flippant,  familiar  manner,  "  Is  old 


230  DECEPTIVE    APPEARANCES. 

Webster  at  home  ?  We've  had  such  miserable  luck 
in  shooting,  that  we  should  like  to  honor  him  with 
a  call."  To  this  question,  expressed  in  such  an  un- 
dignified manner,  Mr.  Webster  calmly  replied,  "  that 
the  gentleman  alluded  to  was  not  at  home  just  then, 
but  would  be  as  soon  as  he  could  walk  to  the  house, 
and  he  would  be  glad  to  see  them  at  dinner." 

What  reply  these  sporting  gentlemen  made  to  this 
rebuke  is  not  recorded,  but  evidence  is  furnished 
that  they  did  not  dine  with  "  old  Webster "  that 
day. 

Young  men  sliould  be  careful  not  to  form  an 
opinion  of  others  from  their  external  appearance. 
A  noble  character  is  ofttimes  concealed  under  an 
unfashionable  costume.  It  is  especially  dangerous, 
in  country  places,  to  infer  the  social  standing  of  a 
stranger  from  the  garb  in  which  he  appears.  The 
employment  of  a  farmer  forbids  the  wearing  of  fine 
broadcloth,  French  satin,  and  polished  calfskin,  when 
engaged  in  his  daily  occupation.  And  if,  because 
the  fabric  of  his  garments  is  coarse,  and  their  sur- 
face soiled,  any  one  should  infer  that  poverty  of 
purse,  feebleness  of  intellect,  and  a  low  social  posi- 
tion were  among  his  possessions,  and  should  treat 
him  accordingly,  he  would  incur  the  liability  of 
making  a  discovery  which  would  very  justly  over- 
whelm him  with  mortification.  The  wisest  course 
is,  to  treat  every  man,  whatever  may  be  his  appear- 


YOUNG  WEBSTER'S  WIT.  231 

ance,  as  a  gentleman,  until  we  learn  his  forfeiture 
of  that  character. 

The  natural  humor  of  Mr.  Webster,  of  which  we 
have  given  several  illustrations,  manifested  itself  in 
early  childhood.  On  one  occasion,  when  he  and  his 
brother  Ezekiel  were  boys,  after  they  had  gone  to 
bed,  they  got  into  a  controversy  about  some  passage 
in  the  Columbian  Orator,  a  famous  school  book  of 
that  day  j  they  left  their  pillows,  and  began  some 
researches  in  order  to  settle  the  dispute  ;  in  so  doing 
they  managed  to  set  their  bedclothes  on  fire,  and 
narrowly  escaped  consuming  the  house.  When 
asked,  the  next  morning,  how  the  accident  was 
caused,  Daniel  replied,  "  We  were  in  pursuit  of  light, 
but  got  more  than  we  wanted" 

At  another  time  their  father  gave  them  a  certain 
piece  of  work  to  perform  during  his  absence  from 
the  house  ;  but  finding,  upon  his  return,  that  the 
task  was  unperformed,  he  questioned  the  boys  with 
some  degree  of  sternness  concerning  their  employ- 
ment :  — 

"  What  have  you  been  doing,  Ezekiel  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  sir,"  was  his  answer. 

"  Well,  Daniel,  what  have  you  been  doing  7  " 

"  Helping  Zeke,  sir" 

How  much  help  "  Zeke  "  required  to  do  nothing, 
we  are  not  informed. 

The  same  native  humor  peeps  out  in  the  reply  he 
16 


232  THE    VENERABLE    TROUT. 

gave  to  a  friend  who  asked  him  what  he  intended 
to  speak  about  in  his  historical  address,  in  New 
York,  on  the  next  day. 

"  I  am  going,"  said  he,  "  to  be  excessively  learned 
and  classical,  and  shall  talk  much  about  the  older 
citizens  of  Greece.  When  I  make  my  appearance 
in  Broadway  to-morrow,  people  will  accost  me  thus : 
'Good  morning,  Mr.  Webster.  Recently  from 
Greece,  I  understand.  How  did  you  leave  Mr. 
Pericles  and  Mr.  Aristophanes  1 '  ' 

The  address  alluded  to  in  this  playful  manner 
was  one  of  rare  excellence.  It  was  instructive, 
"classical,  eloquent.  So  great  was  the  desire  to  hear 
him,  that  tickets  for  admission  were  sold,  in  some 
instances,  for  a  hundred  dollars. 

Frequently,  when  Mr.  Webster  was  engaged  in 
his  favorite  amusements  of  riding,  gunning,  and  fish- 
ing, his  mind  would  revert  to  the  great  themes 
which  his  office  or  his  profession  required  him  to 
discuss  and  settle.  Some  of  the  interesting  passages 
in  his  addresses  were  prepared  on  these  occasions. 
It  is  stated  that,  at  one  time,  when  engaged  in 
angling,  as  he  drew  a  large  trout  from  the  water, 
he  exclaimed,  as  if  addressing  his  captive,  and  re- 
garding it  as  the  representative  of  others,  "  Venera- 
ble men  !  you  have  come  down  to  us  from  a  former 
generation.  Heaven  has  bounteously  lengthened  out 
your  lives,  that  you  might  behold  this  joyous  day  M 


ADVANTAGES    OF    GOOD    HUMOK-  233 

And  these  very  words  were  afterwards  employed  in 
his  oration  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the 
Bunker  Hill  monument,  when  he  addressed  the  vet- 
erans —  the  few  surviving  soldiers  of  that  memora- 
ble battle. 

It  is  a  great  mistake  to  suppose  that  cheerful  hu- 
mor and  sparkling  wit  should  never  be  indulged. 
They  are  the  developments  of  an  element  of  char- 
acter which  tends  greatly  to  the  promotion  of  human 
happiness.  Ofttimes,  when  the  brow  is  wrinkled 
with  care,  and  the  heart  filled  with  sadness,  some 
humorous  remark,  or  sparkling  repartee,  or  the  re- 
lation of  some  ridiculous  incident,  or  amusing  anec- 
dote, will  smooth  that  brow,  and  neutralize  the  sad- 
ness of  the  burdened  spirit.  In  the  walks  of  grave 
professional  life,  exhibitions  of  good  humor  are  like 
beautiful  wild  flowers,  peeping  here  and  there  from 
the  rocks  and  crevices  by  the  roadside,  which,  by 
their  delicate  colors  and  pleasant  perfume,  afford 
delight  to  the  weary  traveller,  who  would  otherwise 
be  oppressed  with  the  monotony  and  gloominess  of 
the  way.  Flowers  of  this  kind  Mr.  Webster  both 
culled  and  cultivated.  He  knew,  also,  how  to  use 
them.  There  were  few  men  more  genial,  more  hu 
morous,  or  who  could  more  easily  set  "  the  table  in 
a  roar,"  than  he.  His  relation  of  anecdotes  always 
produced  a  decided  effect. 


234  WEBSTER'S  SPELLING  BOOK. 

He  was  also  exceedingly  happy  in  giving  a  pleas- 
ant turn,  in  social  company,  to  topics  on  which  he 
differed  from  others.  The  following  is  an  instance. 
In  1847  he  visited  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  A 
dinner  was  given  him.  There  were  present  at  the 
table  those  with  whose  political  sentiments  he  had 
no  sympathy  —  those  whom  he  had  felt  it  his  duty 
to  oppose,  in  Congress  and  elsewhere,  with  all  the 
weight  of  his  personal  talents  and  official  position. 
After  being  called  out  by  a  toast,  which  was  drank 
in  his  honor,  he  closed  his  speech  in  the  following 
agreeable  manner :  — 

"  Gentlemen,  allow  me  to  tell  you  of  an  incident. 
At  Raleigh,  a  gentleman,  purposing  to  call  on  me, 
asked  his  son,  a  little  lad,  if  he  did  not  wish  to  go 
and  see  Mr.  Webster.  The  boy  answered,  '  Is  it 
that  Mr.  Webster  who  made  the  spelling  book,  and 
sets  me  so  many  hard  lessons  1  If  so,  I  never  want 
to  see  him  as  long  as  I  live.' 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  I  am  that  Mr.  Webster  who 
holds  sentiments,  on  some  subjects,  not  altogether 
acceptable,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  to  some  portions  of 
the  South.  But  I  set  no  lessons  ;  I  make  no  spell- 
ing books.  If  I  spell  out  some  portions  of  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States  in  a  manner  different 
from  that  practised  by  others,  I  readily  concede, 
neverthejess,  to  all  others  a  right  to  disclaim  my 


AN    AGREEABLE    SCHOOLMASTER.  235 

spelling,  and  adopt  an  orthography  more  suitable  to 
their  own  opinions,  leaving  all  to  that  general  pub- 
lic judgment  to  which  we  must,  in  the  end,  all  sub- 
mit." And  when  he  took  his  seat,  the  following 
toast  was  submitted :  "  Here's  to  the  agreeable 
schoolmaster  —  who  sets  no  lessons.** 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Mr.  Webster  an  early  Riser. —  His  Letter  on  the  Morning. —  Ad- 
am's Mornings.  —  What  to  observe  in  the  Morning.  —  Dr.  Dod- 
dridge  on  early  Rising. —  Beauties  of  Marshfield. —  Mr.  Web- 
ster's Love  of  Trees.  —  He  protects  Birds.  —  His  Reward.  — 
The  Quails.  —  He  tames  wild  Geese.  —  His  Interest  in  the 
natural  Sciences.  —  Presents  Audubon  with  Birds.  —  The  Wall- 
flower. —  The  Sound  of  the  Sea.  —  Lessons  of  Nature.  —  Dig- 
nity of  the  Study  of  Nature. 

A  PRACTICE  of  Mr.  Webster,  which  he  seems  to 
have  kept  up  through  life,  was  that  of  early  rising. 
'Long  before  the  first  gray  streak  in  the  eastern  ho- 
rizon heralded  the  approach  of  the  "  king  of  day," 
he  was  up,  dressed,  and  in  the  depth  of  his  day's 
work.  It  was  his  uniform  practice  to  despatch  his 
study  and  correspondence  by  the  middle  of  the  fore- 
noon. On  one  occasion  he  said,  "  What  little  I 
have  accomplished  has  been  done  early  in  the  morn- 
ing." In  a  letter  to  an  agricultural  convention,  he 
wrote,  "  When  a  boy  among  my  native  hills  of  New 
Hampshire,  no  cock  crowed  so  early  that  I  did  not 
hear  him"  During  his  residence  at  Washington,  he 
was  accustomed  to  visit  the  market,  make  his  pur- 
chases, and  converse  familiarly  with  the  butchers  and 
farmers,  long  before  the  citizens  of  the  capital  were 

236 


WEBSTER    AN    EARLY    RISER.  237 

stirring.  Strangers  in  Washington,  after  learning 
this  fact,  would  themselves  go  to  the  market  in  the 
early  dawn,  for  the  purpose  of  getting  a  sight  of  the 
great  statesman. 

Mr.  Lanman  says,  "  Mr.  Webster  admired,  above 
all  things,  to  see  the  sun  rise,  especially  from  his 
chamber  window  at  Marshfield.  He  appreciated 
the  moral  sublimity  of  the  spectacle,  and  it  ever 
seemed  to  fill  his  mind  with  mighty  conceptions. 
On  many  occasions,  at  sunrise,  both  in  the  spring 
and  autumn,  has  he  stolen  into  the  chamber  occupied 
by  the  writer,  which  looked  upon  the  sea,  and,  with 
only  his  dressing  gown  on,  has  stood  by  his  bedside, 
and  startled  the  writer  out  of  a  deep  sleep,  by  a 
loud  shout  somewhat  to  this  effect :  — 

" '  Awake,  sluggard  !  and  look  upon  this  glorious 
scene  ;,  for  the  sky  and  the  ocean  are  enveloped  in 
flames  ! ' 

"  On  one  occasion  the  writer  was  awakened  in  a 
similar  manner  at  a  very  early  hour,  when,  lo,  Mr. 
Webster,  who  happened  to  be  in  a  particularly  play- 
ful mood,  was  seen  going  through  the  graceful  mo 
tions  of  an  angler,  throwing  a  fly  and  striking  a 
trout,  and  then,  without  speaking  a  word,  disap- 
peared. As  a  matter  of  course,  that  day  was  given 
to  fishing." 

In  1852  Mr.  Webster  visited  Virginia ;  he  contin- 
ued his  habit  there.  As  one  of  its  results,  we  have 


238  HIS    LETTER    ON    THE    MORNING. 

the  following  beautifully  descriptive  account  of  the 
morning.  None  but  a  passionate  lover  of  the  early 
dawn  could  have  written  it. 

"  RICHMOND,  VA.,      / 
•  Five  o'clock,  A.  M.,  April  29,  1852.  5 

"My  DEAR  FRIEND:  Whether  it  be  a  favor  or  an 
annoyance,  you  owe  this  letter  to  my  early  habits 
of  rising.  From  the  hour  marked  at  the  top  of  the 
page,  you  will  naturally  conclude  that  my  compan- 
ions are  not  now  engaging  my  attention,  as  we  have 
not  calculated  on  being  early  travellers  to-day. 

"  This  city  has  a  '  pleasant  seat.'  It  is  high  ;  the 
James  River  runs  below  it,  and  when  I  went  out,  an 
hour  ago,  nothing  was  heard  but  the  roar  of  the 
falls.  The  air  is  tranquil,  and  its  temperature  mild. 
It  is  morning,  and  a  morning  sweet,  and  fresh,  and 
delightful.-  Every  body  knows  the  morning  in  its 
metaphorical  sense,  applied  to  so  many  occasions. 
The  health,  strength,  and  beauty  of  early  years  lead 
us  to  call  that  period  the  '  morning  of  life.'  Of  a 
lovely  young  woman  we  say,  she  is  '  bright  as  the 
morning,'  and  no  one  doubts  why  Lucifer  is  called 
«  son  of  the  morning.' 

"  But  the  morning  itself,  few  people,  inhabitants 
of  cities,  know  any  thing  about.  Among  all  our 
good  people,  no  one  in  a  thousand  sees  the  sun  rise 
once  in  a  year.  They  know  nothing  of  the  morn- 
ing. Their  idea  oT  it  is,  that  it  is  that  part  of  the 


METAPHORICAL    ALLUSIONS.  239 

day  which  conies  along  after  a  cup  of  coffee  and  a 
beefsteak,  or  a  piece  of  toast.  With  them  morning 
is  not  a  new  issuing  of  light,  a  new  bursting  forth 
of  the  sun,  a  new  waking  up  of  all  that  has  life 
from  a  sort  of  temporary  death,  to  behold  again  the 
works  of  God,  the  heavens  and  the  earth  ;  it  is  only 
a  part  of  the  domestic  day,  belonging  to  reading  the 
newspapers,  answering  notes,  sending  the  children  to 
school,  and  giving  orders  for  dinner.  The  first 
streak  of  light,  the  earliest  purpling  of  the  east, 
which  the  lark  springs  up  to -greet,  and  the  deeper 
and  deeper  coloring  into  orange  and  red,  till  at 
length  the  « glorious  sun  is  seen,  regent  of  the  day,' 
—  this  they  never  enjoy,  for  they  never  see  it. 

"  Beautiful  descriptions  of  the  morning  abound  in 
all  languages ;  but  they  are  the  strongest,  perhaps, 
in  the  East,  where  the  sun  is  often  an  object  of 
worship. 

"Ring  David  speaks  of  taking  to  himself  the 
«  wings  of  the  morning.'  This  is  highly  poetical 
and  beautiful.  The  wings  of  the  morning  are  the 
beams  of  the  rising  sun.  Rays  of  light  are  wings. 
It  is  thus  said  that  the  Sun  of  righteousness  shall 
arise  '  with  healing  in  his  wings  '  —  a  rising  sun  that 
shall  scatter  life,  health,  and  joy  throughout  the 
universe. 

"  Milton  has  fine  descriptions  of  morning,  but  not 
so  many  as  Shakspeare,  from  whose  writings  pages 


240  ADAM'S  MORNINGS. 

of  the  most  beautiful  imagery,  all   founded  on  the 
glory  of  the  morning,  might  be  filled. 

"  I  never  thought  that  Adam  had  much  the  ad- 
vantage of  us,  from  having  seen  the  world  while  it 
was  new. 

"  The  manifestations  of  the  power  of  God,  like 
his  mercies,  are  « new  every  morning,'  and  fresh 
every  moment. 

"  We  see  as  fine  risings  of  the  sun  as  ever  Adam 
saw ;  and  its  risings  are  as  much  a  miracle  now  as 
they  were  in  his  day,  and  I  think  a  good  deal  more, 
because  it  is  now  a  part  of  the  miracle  that,  for 
thousands  and  thousands  of  years,  he  has  come  to 
his  appointed  time,  without  the  variation  of  a  mil- 
lionth part  of  a  second.  Adam  could  not  tell  how 
this  might  be.  I  know  the  morning  ;  I  am  acquaint- 
ed with  it,  and  I  love  it.  I  love  it  fresh  and  sweet 
as  it  is  —  a  daily  new  creation,  breaking  forth  and 
calling  all  that  have  life,  and  breath,  and  being,  to 
new  adoration,  new  enjoyments,  and  new  gratitude. 

"  DANIEL  WEBSTER." 

"  We  see  as  fine  risings  of  the  sun  as  ever  Adaiu 
saw-"  How  interesting  is  that  thought  !  By  rising 
early,  and  looking  from  an  upper  window,  or  as- 
cending some  small  eminence  which  gives  us  the 
command  of  the  horizon,  we  may  behold  a  scene 
of  as  much  magnificence  as  greeted  the  eyes  of 


EAHLY    RISING.  241 

Adam,  when  the  first  rays  of  the  rising  sun  gilded 
the  beauties  of  paradise.  Try  it,  young  reader. 
Rise  before  the  sun;  go  forth  to  hail  his  coming; 
play  in  the  beams  sent  forth  by  his  upper  edge  be- 
fore his  centre  makes  its  appearance ;  observe  care- 
fully the  effects  produced  upon  the  appearance  of 
the  various  objects  upon  hill,  tree,  cloud,  lake, 
ai.d  building,  as  the  darkness  flees  away,  and  the 
gray  dawn  brightens  into  the  full  light  of  day  ;  and 
if  you  possess  a  particle  of  the  love  of  the  beauti- 
ful, you  will  acknowledge  that  no  display  of  the  pyr- 
otechnic art  can  bear  any  comparison  to  the  gor- 
geous splendor  of  the  scene  before  you. 

Those  who  lounge  away  their  time  upon  their 
pillow  are  not  aware  of  the  amount  which  the  ag- 
gregate of  these  lost  hours  would  make.  Dr.  Dod- 
dridge  has  said  that  the  difference  between  rising  at 
five  and  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  for  the  space 
of  forty  years,  supposing  a  man  to  go  to  bed  at  the 
same  hour  at  night,  is  nearly  equivalent  to  the  addi- 
tion of  ten  years  to  a  man's  life. 

It  follows  that  he  who  desires  to  lengthen  his  life 
in  respect  to  its  practical  influence,  should  rise  ear- 
lier than  he  has  been  accustomed  to.  All  the  time 
that  he  thus  redeems  from  the  pillow  is  so  much 
added  to  active  existence. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  freshness  of  the  morning 
air,  and  the  renovation  which  the  mind  has  received 


242  BEAUTIES    OF    MARSHFIELD. 

from  its  recent  sleep,  by  which  the  clearness  of  its 
perceptions  and  the  rapidity  of  its  operations  are 
ii  creased,  render  this  a  peculiarly  favorable  time 
fcr  intellectual  pursuits. 

Mr.  Webster's  habit  in  this  respect  was  similar  to 
that  of  many  other  distinguished  characters.  Buffon, 
the  great  naturalist,  ascribes  the  existence  of  many 
volumes  of  his  w.orks  to  his  practice  of  early  rising. 

We  have  already  remarked  that  Mr.  Webster  was 
a  lover  of  nature.  This  was  evinced  in  his  choice 
of  a  residence  at  Marshfield,  where  hill,  pond,  for- 
est, and  ocean  combine  their  peculiar  beauties  to 
render  the  place  attractive,  and  also  by  his  assiduous 
care,  with  which  all  the  peculiar  charms  of  the  place 
have  been  developed. 

General  Lyman,  in  a  letter  which  he  wrote  in 
November,  1843,  at  Marshfield,  says,  "  Mr.  Webster, 
seeing  the  interest  I  manifested  yesterday  on  the 
subject  of  the  forest,  which  is  periodically  cut  down 
for  wood,  and  suffered  to  grow  up  again,  was  kind 
enough  to  show  me  vast  numbers  of  trees,  prob- 
ably one  hundred  thousand,  which  he  has  plant- 
ed from  the  seed  with  his  own  hands.  They  are, 
however,  yet  small.  He  said  his  way  had  been  to 
sow  the  seed,  in  favorable  places,  of  the  locust, 
horsechestnut,  catalpa,  <fec.,  some  of  which  have 
been  transplanted  at  an  early  age,  and  others  left  to 
grow  up  in  thickets.  A  little  belt  of  wood  thus 


WEBSTER   AT   MARSHFtELO 


PLANTING    TREES.  243 

produced,  none  of  the  trees  of  which  have  bee;i 
planted  more  than  a  dozen  or  thirteen  years,  bound- 
ing the  -lawn  and  pond  on  one  side,  is  already  so 
high  and  dense  as  to  afford  a  perfectly  shaded  walk 
through  the  centre  of  it,  not  only  making  a  beautiful 
promenade,  but  filling  up  the  background  of  the 
landscape,  of  which  the  lawn  and  pond  constitute 
prominent  features. 

«.'  Mr.  Webster  spoke  in  warm  terms — terms  al- 
most of  indignation  —  of  the  stupidity  of  persons 
who  omit  to  plant  trees  from  an  idea  that  they  may 
not  live  to  see  their  growth  and  beauty,  or  to  taste 
their  fruits.  He  reminded  me  of  Walter  Scott's 
good  advice  on  this  subject.  He  would  plant  a  tree 
which  would  be  growing  while  others  were  sleeping. 

"  He  spoke  of  the  just  and  excellent  taste  of  Sir 
Walter  Scott,  on  all  subjects  of  this  kind,  and  re- 
ferred to  two  articles  written  for  the  London  Quar- 
terly Review,  some  years  ago,  on  planting  trees, 
landscape,  &.C.,  as  being  full  of  instruction.  'Where 
is  the  man,'  said  Mr.  Webster,  '  who  does  not  ad- 
mire the  principle  which  actuated  the  late  Stephen 
Girard,  of  Philadelphia,  who,  when  bending  over 
the  grave  with  age,  said  he  would  plant  a  tree  to-day 
if  he  knew  he  were  to  die  to-morrow  1  If  every 
man  were  actuated  by  such  sentiments,  what  a 
change  it  would  produce  in  the  affairs  of  the 
world  !  ' 


244  THE  HILL    CHANGED. 

He  showed  me  eight  or  nine  specimens  of  oak ; 
several  of  them  he  had  obtained  from  the  Southern 
States  ;  all  the  varieties  of  pines  and  cedars,  and 
the  arbor  vitae,  from  Maine ;  various  sorts  of  ash, 
maple,  and  the  buckeye  from  Ohio ;  and  the  sweet 
gum  from  Virginia. 

"  For  these  last  two,  however,  the  climate  was 
found  somewhat  too  severe.  The  whitewood,  as 
we  call  it  in  New  York  and  Ohio,  —  properly  the 
liriodendron,  or  tulip  tree,  —  appears  to  grow  well. 
Hedges  of  buckthorn  line  the  avenue  to  the  house, 
stand  the  climate  well,  and  are  very  handsome. 

"  In  a  few  years  these  trees,  according  to  my 
prediction,  will  be  the  admiration  of  every  body, 
and  branches  of  them  will  be  cut  and  carried  away 
by  future  generations,  who  will  know  the  biography 
of  the  great  man  of  our  time,  as  branches  are  now 
cut  and  carried  away  from  the  trees  which  grow  on 
the  plantations  of  other  sages,  whose  pillars  are  in 
the  dust.  The  handsome  "wooden  eminence  neai 
the  house  is  now  beautifully  covered  with  a  thicket 
of  locusts,  catalpas,  young  cherry  trees,  &c.  This 
little  hill,  twelve  years  ago,  was  perfectly  naked,  and 
the  sand  was  blown  about  by  the  wind.  A  lady, 
visiting  Mrs.  Webster,  begged  that  so  unsightly  an 
object  might  be  made  to  mend  its  appearance.  Her 
advice  was  followed,  and  six  years  afterwards,  visit, 
mg  Marshfield  again,  she  clapped  her  hands  with 


MR.    WEBSTER    PROTECTS    BIROS.  245 

admiration  at  the  success  of  what  she  had  recom- 
mended." 

Although  Mr.  Webster  was  fond  of  gunning,  and 
often  went  out  for  that  purpose,  being  an  "  excellent 
shot,"  yet  he  allowed  no  gun  to  be  fired  upon  his 
premises.  Such  birds  and  game  as  approached  his 
house,  or  made  it  their  home  any  where  on  his 
grounds,  he  would  not  allow  to  be  disturbed.  The 
delightful  effect  of  this  kind  treatment  is  described 
as  follows  by  his  visitor  :  — 

"  I  was  struck  with  the  lameness  of  several  little 
animals  and  birds,  which  I  have  elsewhere  found 
quite  wild  and  shy.  A  squirrel,  for  instance,  sat 
almost  within  our  reach,  eating  a  nut,  and  hearing 
us  talk,  without  the  least  indication  of  fear.  The 
birds  hopped  about,  singing  their  wild  notes,  as  if 
unconscious  of  our  presence.  A  brood  of  quails 
had  actually  been  hatched  between  the  house  and 
the  gate,  in  the  hedge  that  lines  the  carriage  way  to 
the  door.  I  inquired  why  this  was  so ;  he  said, 
« During  the  whole  time  I  have  been  there,  I  have 
endeavored  to  cultivate  their  acquaintance,  and  have 
never  permitted  their  nests  to  be  disturbed  ;  nor  do  I 
allow  guns  to  be  fired  on  the  premises,  nor  sticks  or 
stones  to  be  thrown  at  them,  nor  any  thing  done  that 
would  frighten  them  away.  They  seem  to  know 
where  they  are  well  treated,  and  come  with  the  sea- 
sons to  enjoy  my  protection.'  " 
17 


246  REWARD    OF    PROTECTION. 

On  one  occasion,  Mr.  Webster  was  walking  over 
his  grounds  with  a  gentleman  from  Boston,  when  a 
flock  of  quails  darted  across  the  road  only  a  few 
feet  from  them.  The  gentleman  was  highly  excited 
at  the  discovery  of  the  game,  and  longed  to  try  his 
skill  with  powder  and  ball.  "  O,  if  I  only  had  a 
gun,"  said  he,  "  I  could  easily  kill  the  whole  flock. 
Ha>  e  you  not  one  in  your  house,  sir  ?  " 

«•  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Mr.  Webster,  with  his  usual 
calmness  —  "  yes,  sir,  I  have  a  number  of  guns  $  but 
no  man  whatsoever  do  I  ever  permit  to  kill  a  bird, 
rabbit,  or  squirrel,  on  any  of  my  property."  He 
then  proceeded  to  condemn  the  indiscriminate 
slaughtering  propensities  of  the  Americans. 

"In  this  country,"  said  he,  "there  is  an  almost 
universal  passion  for  killing  and  eating  every  wild 
animal  that  chances  to  cross  the  pathway  of  man  ; 
while  in  England  and  other  portions  of  Europe 
these  animals  are  kindly  protected  and  valued  for 
their  companionship.  This  is  to  me  a  great  myste- 
ry ;  and  so  far  as  my  influence  extends,  the  birds 
shall  be  protected."  Just  at  this  moment  one  of  the 
little  fugitive  quails,  that  the  visitor  was  so  anxious 
to  kill,  mounted  a  little  eminence,  and  poured  forth 
a  song,  as  if  in  gratitude  to  its  humane  protector. 
"  There,"  said  Mr.  Webster,  "  does  not  that  gush  of 
song  do  the  heart  a  thousand  fold  more  good  than 
could  possibly  be  derived  from  the  death  of  that 


MR.    WEBSTER    TAMES    WILD    GEESE.  247 

beautiful  bird  ?  "  The  stranger  returned  his  thanks 
to  Mr.  Webster  for  his  gentle  reproof,  and  subse- 
quently acknowledged  that  "  this  little  incident  made 
him  love  the  man  whom  he  had  before  only  admired 
as  a  statesman." 

Mr.  Webster,  in  the  earnestness  of  his  desire  to 
surround  bis  dwelling  at  Marshfield  with  the  charms 
of  animated  nature,  has  succeeded  in  accomplish- 
ing, what  very  few  persons  in  this  country  have  ever 
attempted,  viz.,  the  taming  of  wild  geese.  "  The 
value  and  pictorial  beauty  of  Marshfield  are  greatly 
enhanced,"  says  Mr.  Lanman,  "  by  the  existence,  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  mansion,  of  a  trio  of 
little  lakes,  all  of  them  fed  by  springs  of  the  purest 
water.  The  two  smaller  ones  are  the  favorite 
haunts  of  the  common  geese  and  the  duck  tribes  ; 
but  the  larger  one,  which  studs  the  landscape  very 
charmingly,  is  the  exclusive  domain  of  a  large  flock 
of  wild  geese  which  Mr.  Webster  had  domesticated. 
He  informed  the  writer  that  his  first  attempts  to  tame 
these  beautiful  creatures  were  all  unsuccessful,  until 
the  idea  occurred  to  him  that  perhaps  they  might  be 
made  contented  with  their  civilized  abode,  provided 
they  could  have  awarded  to  them  small  sedgy  islands, 
such  as  were  found  at  their  breeding-places  in  the 
far  north,  where  they  might  make  their  nests  and 
remain  indisturbed  by  the  fox  and  other  prowling 
animals.  The  experiment  was  tried ;  and  vvluk 


248  LOVE    OF    NATURE. 

the  geese  were  rendered  contented  with  their  lot> 
the  lake  itself  his  been  greatly  improved  in  pictur- 
esque beauty  by  its  wild  yet  artificial  islands.  In- 
deed, the  rural  scenery  of  Marshfield  is  all  that 
could  be  desired  by  the  painter  or  poet ,  but  when 
they  come  to  add  thereto  an  immense  expanse  of 
marsh  land,  veined  with  silver  streams,  dotted  with 
islands  of  unbroken  forest,  skirted  with  a  far-reach 
ing  beach,  and  bounded  by  the  blue  ocean,  they  can- 
not but  be  deeply  impressed  with  the  magnificence 
of  its  scenery." 

Mr.  Webster's  love  of  Nature  was  not  superficial. 
Whilst  he  greatly  admired  all  her  external  features, 
he  was  interested  in  the  study  of  her  laws.  In  his  li- 
brary was  a  collection  of  rare  and  valuable  works  on 
the  various  departments  of  natural  history,  and  the  nat- 
ural sciences,  the  perusal  of  which  afforded  him  great 
pleasure  whenever  he  could  secure  time  for  the"  pur- 
pose. On  a  certain  occasion,  when  these  subjects 
were  made  the  topics  of  conversation,  he  said  that 
he  wished  he  could  live  three  lives  while  living  this. 
"One  I  would  devote  to  the  study  of  geology  — 
to  reading  the  earth's  history  of  itself.  Another  life 
I  would  devote  to  astronomy.  I  have  recently  read 
the  history  of  that  science,  written  so  clearly,  that, 
although  I  am  no  mathematician,  I  could  understand 
it,  and  was  astonished  at  seeing  to  what  heights  it 


WEBSTER    AND    AUDDBON.  249 

had  been  pushed  by  modern  intellects.  The  other 
I  would  devote  to  the  classics." 

It  is  an  interesting  fact,  and  one  on  which  the 
young  would  do  well  to  ponder,  that,  as  Mr.  Webster 
advanced  in  years,  his  mind  was  withdrawn  from 
themes  and  speculations  which  interested  him  in  the 
earlier  periods  of  his  life,  and  was  devoted,  with  in- 
creased pleasure,  to  the  contemplation  and  study  of 
nature. 

Amongst  all  the  visitors  who  were  honored  with 
the  hospitality  of  his  elegant  mansion,  there  were 
few  so  cheerfully  welcomed  as  those  who  were 
devoted  to  the  investigation  of  natural  objects. 
With  these  Mr.  Webster  loved  to  converse,  and  ex- 
change items  of  information.  He  also  furnished 
such  individuals  every  facility  in  his  power  for  the 
prosecution  of  their  studies.  The  celebrated  Audu- 
bon  was  one  of  his  personal  friends  ;  and  on  one 
occasion,  when  the  great  ornithologist  was  visiting 
Marshfield,  "  he  -was  presented  by  Mr.  Webster  with 
a  wagon  load  of  miscellaneous  birds,  which  the  lat- 
ter had  ordered  to  be  killed  by  his  hunters  all  along 
the  coast,  and  among  them  was  the  identical  Canada 
goose  which  figures  so  beautifully  in  the  '  Birds  of 
America.'  Mr.  Webster  has  said  that  the  delighted 
naturalist  studied  the  attitude  of  that  single  goose 
for  an  entire  Jay,  and  that  he  was  three  days  in  tak- 
ing its  portrait.'" 


250  SOUND    OF    THE    SEA. 

At  another  time,  in  conversation  with  a  clergyman, 
• — Rev.  Dr.  Choules,  — he  gave  utterance  to  the  fol- 
lowing beautiful  sentiments  :  — 

"  When  I  was  id  England  I  was  greatly  pleased 
with  the  wallflower,  so  often  seen  upon  the  walls  of 
ruins  and  decaying  buildings.  The  country  people 
call  it  the  bloody  wallflower.  I  seldom  picked  this 
sweet-scented  flower  without  thinking  of  the  hopes 
and  wishes  of  life  —  the  best  and  sweetest  of  my 
life  all  surrounded  with  ruin  and  decay  :  still  we 
must  look  out  for  the  blossoms  of  hope." 

"  I  have  been  reading  White's  Selbourne  once 
more.  What  moral  beauty  there  was  in  White's 
mind  !  How  he  revelled  in  quiet  country  life  !  and 
when  he  became  deaf,  and  could  no  longer  hear  the 
birds  sing,  yet  he  thanks  God  that  his  eyesight  is 
still  quick  and  good." 

Walking  in  the  evening  at  Marshfield,  and  gazing 
at  the  sea,  Mr.  Webster  stopped,  and  placing  his 
hand  upon  the  shoulder  of  the  same  gentleman,  re- 
cited several  verses  of  Mrs.  Hemans's  impressive 
poem  on  the  Sound  of  the  Sea : 

«  Thou  art  sounding  on,  thou  mighty  sea, 

Forever  and  the  same  ; 
The  ancient  rocks  yet  ring  to  thee, 
Whose  thunders  nought  can  tame. 

• 

"  O,  many  a  glorious  voice  is  gone 
From  lue  rich  bowers  of  earth. 


LESSONS    OF    NATURE.  251 

And  hushed  is  many  a  lovely  one 
Of  mournfulness  or  mirth. 

•'  But  thou  art  swelling  on,  thou  deep, 

Through  many  an  olden  clime, 
Thy  billowy  anthems  ne'er  to  sleep 
Until  the  close  of  time." 

The  study  of  nature  is  one  of  the  noblest  employ- 
ments of  the  human  mind.  We  are  then  brought 
into  direct  contact  with  the  works  of  the  Creator. 
We  are  furnished  with  conclusive  evidences  of  his 
existence  and  attributes.  Not  only  by  these  pursuits 
is  the  taste  refined,  and  the  love  of  the  beautiful 
strengthened,  but  an  influence  is  exerted  favorable 
to  the  cultivation  of  moral  character. 

Besides,  in  the  study  of  nature  we  need  not  go 
far  for  lessons.  They  spring  up  in  the  beautiful 
flowers  which  ornament  our  path;  they  smile  upcn 
us  in  the  stars  above  our  head  ;  we  may  read  them 
upon  the  tapestry  of  the  ever-changing  clouds,  in  the 
architecture  of  mountains,  and  the  solemn  grandeur 
of  ancient  forests ;  they  whisper  around  us  in  the 
buzzing  of  insects  ;  they  charm  us  in  the  melody  of 
birds  ;  they  fill  us  with  awe  in  the  howling  of  the 
storm,  the  roaring  of  the  .angry  ocean,  and  the  ter- 
rific tones  of  the  threatening  thunder.  They  are 
spread  out  all  around  us  on  nature's  ample  page,  and 
whenever  so  disposed,  we  may  study  them  to  our 
«« heart's  content."  We  are  aware  of  a  class  of  in- 


352  DIGNITY    OF    NATURE. 

dividuals  in  the  community  who  look  with  a  feeling 
bordering  upon  contempt  on  pursuits  of  this  nature 
Picking  weeds  to  pieces,  or  carefully  examining  the 
formation  of  an  insect,  or  a  reptile,  they  seem  to 
regard  as  totally  unworthy  so  exalted  a  being  as 
man. 

They  cherieh  a  feeling  of  pity  bordering  on  con- 
tempt for  those  who  are  devoted  to  such  pur- 
suits. It  would  be  well  for  such  persons  to  consider 
whether  any  thing,  which  the  all-wise  Creator  has 
not  deemed  as  beneath  himself  to  make,  can  be  un- 
worthy for  us  to  examine  and  admire,  and  whether 
it  may  not  exhibit  a  want  of  suitable  regard  for  the 
Creator  himself,  when  the  displays  of  his  power  and 
glory,  as  exhibited  in  the  works  of  his  hand,  fail  of 
attracting  attention,  or  of  awakening  admiration. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

Mr.  Webster's  Candor.  —  Mr.  Ketchum's  Testimony.  —  Direction 
to  Mr.  Everett.  —  His  Magnanimity.  —  Dr.  Choules's  Testimo- 
ny. —  Webster  and  Dickenson.  —  Webster's  Eulogy  on  Cal- 
houu. — Character  of  his  Mind.  —  His  impressive  Manner.— 
He  will  be  remembered. —  Webster  and  Hayne.  —  How  to  treat 
Opponents.  —  Charity. 

THE  nobleness  of  Mr.  Webster's  nature  was  ex- 
hibited in  a  striking  manner  on  different  occasions, 
when  he  endeavored  to  prevent  the  perpetuity  of 
personal  feuds.  In  the  exciting  debates  of  Con- 
gress it  was  natural,  under  the  influence  of  tempo- 
rary impulse,  that  language  should  be  used,  which, 
in  a  calmer  mood,  the  speaker  himself  would  not 
justify.  Such  instances,  however,  were  exceedingly 
rare  in  the  speeches  of  Mr.  Webster.  He  seemed 
always  to  appreciate  the  dignity  of  his  character  as 
a  senator  of  the  most  powerful  republic  on  earth, 
and  evinced  an  unwillingness  to  do  or  say  any  thing 
that  was  unbecoming  his  exalted  position.  He  was 
not  insensible  to  the  high  standing  of  his  opponents, 
neither  was  he  unwilling  to  accord  to  them  his 
meed  of  praise  for  their  genius  and  learning. 

Hiram  JCetchurn,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  in  a  brief 
eulogy  upon  Mr.  Webster,  among  other  things^  said, 

253 


254  MR.  KETCHUM'S  TESTIMONY. 

*'  I  have  known  him  in  piivate  and  domestic  life. 
During  the  last  twenty-five  years  I  have  received 
many  letters  from  him,  some  of  which  I  retain, 
and  some  have  been  destroyed  at  his  request.  [ 
have  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  him  often  in  pri- 
vate circles,  and  at  the  festive  hoard,  where  some 
of  our  sessions  were  not  short ;  but  neither  in  his 
letters  nor  his  conversation  have  I  ever  known  him 
to  express  an  impure  thought,  an  immoral  sentiment, 
or  use  profane  language.  Neither  in  writing  nor 
in  conversation  have  I  ever  known  Kirn  assail  any 
man.  No  man  in  my  hearing  was  ever  slandered 
or  spoken  ill  of  by  Daniel  Webster.  Never  in  my 
life  have  I  known  a  man  whose  conversation  was 
uniformly  so  unexceptionable  in  tone  and  edifying 
in  character.  No  man  ever  had  more  tenderness  of 
feeling  than  Daniel  Webster.  He  had  his  enemies 
as  malignant  as  any  man  ;  but  there  was  not  one  of 
them,  who,  if  he  came  to  him  in  distress,  \tould  not 
receive  all  the  relief  in  his  power  to  bestow." 

Another  illustration  of  his  magnanimity  is  fur- 
nished in  his  direction  to  the  Hon.  Edward  Everett, 
when  carrying  Mr.  Webster's  Works  through  the 
press,  to  suppress  all  allusions  which  were  adapted 
to  perpetuate  personal  feuds.  In  allusion  to  this 
fact,  Mr.  Everett,  in  his  beautiful  eulogy  upon  Mr. 
Webster,  says,  —  » 

"  In  preparing  the  new  edition  of  his  works,  lie 


WEBSTER'S  MAGNANIMITY.  255 

thought  proper  to  leave  almost  every  thing  to  rny 
discretion  —  as  far  as  matters  of  taste  are  concerned. 
One  thing  only  he  enjoined  upon  me,  with  an  ear- 
nestness approaching  to  a  command.  '  My  friend,' 
said  he,  '  I  wish  to  perpetuate  no  feuds.  I  have 
sometimes,  though  rarely,  and  that  in  self-defence, 
been  led  to  speak  of  others  with  severity.  I  beg 
you,  where  you  can  do  it  without  wholly  changing  the 
character  of  the  speech,  and  thus  doing  essential  in- 
justice to  me,  to  obliterate  every  trace  of  personali- 
ty of  this  kind.  I  should  prefer  not  to  leave  a  word 
that  would  give  unnecessary  pain  to  any  honest  mans, 
however  opposed  to  me.' 

"  But  I  need  not  tell  you,  fellow-citizens,  that 
there  is  no  one  of  our  distinguished  public  men 
whose  speeches  contain  less  occasion  for  such  an  in- 
junction. Mr.  Webster  habitually  abstained  from 
the  use  of  the  poisoned  weapons  of  personal  invec- 
tive or  party  odium.  No  one  could  more  studiously 
abstain  from  all  attempts  to  make  a  political  oppo- 
nent personally  hateful.  If  the  character  of  our 
congressional  discussions  has  of  late  years  somewhat 
declined  in  dignity,  no  portion  of  the  blame  lies  at 
his  door." 

A  gentleman  who  was  on  familiar  terms  with  him 
for  years  says,  "  In  all  the  interviews  which  I  had  the 
happiness  and  honor  to  enjoy  with  this  great  man, 
I  cannot  remember  that  I  ever  heard  him  utter  an 


256  WEBSTER    AND    DICKENSON. 

unkind,  acrimonious,  or  uncharitable  remark  upon 
any  man.  Once,  wher  a  gentleman  had  named 
some  violent  censuses  heaped  upon  him  in  his  pub- 
lic character,  Mr.  Webster  calmly  replied,  '  Perhaps 
my  calumniator's  misfortunes  have  soured  his  tem- 
perament, for  I  remember  him  a  very  kindly-dis- 
posed person  ;  we  must  make  allowances  for  the  in- 
firmities of  age.'  The  provocation  had  been  very 
great,  and  his  motives  had  been  wantonly  assailed, 
yet  his  considerate  and  magnanimous  spirit  tri- 
umphed nobly  upon  this  occasion."  * 

As  another  instance,  we  relate  the  following  . 
After  the  negotiation  of  the  Ashburton  treaty,  by 
which  very  complicated  and  threatening  difficulties 
between  this  and  the  mother  country  were  adjusted, 
Mr.  Webster  had  serious  charges  alleged  against 
him  in  the  United  States  Senate  by  Hon.  Mr.  Dick- 
enson.  These  charges  he  repelled  in  strong  lan- 
guage. When,  in  1850,  Mr.  Webster  left  the  Senate 
in  order  to  enter  upon  his  duties  as  Secretary  of 
State,  he  addressed  the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Dick- 
enson.  The  painful  occurrences  to  which  he  refers 
are  those  connected  with  that  debate. 

«  WASHINGTON,  Sept.  27,  1850. 

*•  MY  DEAR  SIR  :  Our  companionship  in  the  Sen- 
ate is  dissolved.  After  this  long  and  most  impor- 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Choules. 


.      HIS    LETTER   TO    DICKENSON.  25? 

taut  session,  you  are  about  to  return  to  your  home, 
and  I  shall  try  to  find  leisure  to  visit  mine.  I  hope 
we  may  meet  each  other  again  two  months  hence, 
tor  the  discharge  of  our  duties  in  our  respe'ctive  sta- 
tions in  the  government.  But  life  is  uncertain,  and 
I  have  not  felt  willing  to  take  leave  of  "you  without 
placing  in  your  hands  a  note  containing  a  very  few 
words  which  I  wish  to  say  to  you. 

"  In  the  earlier  part  of  our  acquaintance,  my  dear 
sir,  occurrences  took  place  which  I  remember  with 
constantly-increasing  regret  and  pain,  because,  the 
more  I  have  known  of  you,  the  greater  have  been 
my  esteem  for  your  character  and  my  respect 
for  your  talents.  But  it  is  your  noble,  able,  man- 
ly, and  patriotic  conduct  in  support  of  the  great 
measure  of  this  session  which  has  entirely  won 
my  heart,  and  secured  my  highest  regard.  I  hope 
you  may  live  long  to  serve  your  country  ;  but  I 
do  not  think  you  are  ever  likely  to  see  a  crisis  in 
which  you  may  be  able  to  do  so  much  either  for 
your  own  distinction  or  the  public  good.  You  have 
stood  where  others  have  fallen ;  you  have  advanced 
with  firm  and  manly  step  where  others  have  wa- 
vered, faltered,  and  fallen  back  ;  and  for  one,  I  desire 
to  thank  you,  and  to  commend  your  conduct,  out  of 
the  fulness  of  an  honest  heart. 

"  This  letter  needs  no  reply  ;  it  is,  I  am  aware,  of 
very  little  value ;  but  I  have  thought  you  might  be 


258  EULOGY  oir  CALHOUN. 

willing  to  receive  it,  and,  perhaps,  to  leave  it  where 
it  would  be  seen  by  those  who  shall  come  after  you. 
I  pray  you,  when  you  reach  your  own  threshold,  to 
remember  me  most  kindly  to  your  wife  and  daughter. 
I  lemain,  my  dear  sir,  with  the  truest  esteem, 

**  Your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 

"DANIEL  WEBSTER. 
"  HOH.  D.  S.  DICKEHSOS,  U.  S.  Senate." 

Another  interesting  illustration  of  his  noble  high 
mindedness  was  furnished  in  his  eulogy  upon  Mr. 
Calhoun,  of  South  Carolina.  On  some  of  the  most 
important  questions  ever  discussed  by  Congress,  and 
in  some  of  the  most  intensely-exciting  debates,  he 
and  Mr.  Calboun  were  opponents.  On  the  floor  of 
the  Senate,  that  great  arena  for  intellectual  chivalry, 
they  measured  lances.  A  spectator  might  have  im- 
agined that  in  heart,  as  well  as  in  political  opinion, 
they  were  strongly  hostile  to  each  other.  Yet  when 
it  was  announced  in  the  Senate  by  Mr.  Butler, 
his  colleague,  that  Mr.  Calhoun  had  deceased,  Mr. 
Webster  arose  and  delivered  a  beautiful  eulogy,  from 
which  we  make  the  following  extracts,  which  show 
how  highly  he  could  appreciate  the  talents  and 
character  of  an  honorable  opponent,  and  with  what 
felicity  he  could  express  his  admiration. 

"  I  hope  the  Senate  will  indulge  HIP  in  adding  a 
very  few  words  to  what  has  been  said.  My  apology 


EULOGY    ON    CALHOUN.  259 

for  this  presumption  is  the  very  long  acquaintance 
which  has  subsisted  between  Mr.  Calhoun  and  my- 
self. We  were  of  the  same  age.  I  made  my  first 
entrance  into  the  House  of  Representatives  in  May, 
1813.  I  found  there  Mr.  Calhoun.  He  had  already 
been  a  member  of  that  body  for  two  or  three  years. 
I  found  him  there  an  active  and  efficient  member  of 
the  House,  taking  a  decided  part,  and  exercising  a 
decided  influence  in  all  its  deliberations. 

"  From  that  day  to  the  day  of  his  death,  amidst  all 
the  strifes  of  party  and  politics,  there  has  subsisted 
between  us  always,  and  without  interruption,  a  great 
degree  of  personal  kindness. 

"  Differing  widely  on  many  great  questions  re- 
specting our  institutions  and  the  government  of  the 
country,  those  differences  never  interrupted  our  per- 
sonal and  social  intercourse.  I  have  been  present 
at  most  of  the  distinguished  instances  of  the  exhibi- 
tion of  his  talents  in  debate.  I  have  always  heard 
him  with  pleasure,  often  with  much  instruction,  not 
unfrequently  with  the  highest  degree  of  admira- 
tion. 

"  Mr.  Calhoun  was  calculated  to  be  a  leader  in 
whatsoever  association  of  political  friends  he  was 
thrown.  He  was  a  man  of  undoubted  genius  and 
of  commanding  talent.  All  the  country  and  all  the 
world  admit  that.  His  mind  was  both  perceptive 
and  vigorous.  It  was  clear  quick,  and  strong. 


260  MR.  CALHOUN'S    ELOQUENCE. 

"  Sir,  the  eloquence  of  Mr.  Calhoun,  or  the  manner 
in  which  he  exhibited  his  sentiments  in  public  bodies, 
was  part  of  his  intellectual  character.  It  grew  out 
of  the  qualities  of  his  mind.  It  was  plain,  strong, 
terse,  condensed,  concise,  sometimes  impassioned, 
still  always  severe.  Rejecting  ornament,  not  often 
seeking  far  for  illustration,  his  power  consisted  in 
the  plainness  of  his  propositions,  in  the  closeness  of 
his  logic,  and  in  the  earnestness  and  energy  of  his 
manner.  These  are  the  qualities,  as  I  think,  which 
have  enabled  him  through  such  a  long  course  of 
years  to  speak  often,  and  yet  always  command  atten- 
tion. His  demeanor  as  a  Senator  is  known  to  us 
all — is  appreciated,  venerated,  by  us  all.  No  man 
was  more  respectful  to  others;  no  man  carried  him- 
self with  greater  decorum,  no  man  with  superior 
dignity.  I  think  there  is  not  one  of  us,  when  he 
last  addressed  us  from  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  —  his 
form  still  erect,  with  a  voice  by  no  means  indicating 
such  a  degree  of  physical  weakness  as  did  in  fact 
possess  him,  with  clear  tones,  and  an  impressive,  and, 
I  may  say,  an  imposing  manner,  —  who  did  not  feel 
that  he  might  imagine  that  we  saw  before  us  a 
Senator  of  Rome  while  Rome  survived. 

"  Mr.  President,  he  had  the  basis,  the  indispensable 
basis,  of  all  high  character  —  and  that  was  unspotted 
integrity  and  unim peached  honor.  If  he  had  aspi- 
rations, they  were  high,  and  honorable,  and  noble. 


WEBSTER    AND    HAYNE.  5261 

There  was  nothing  grovelling,  or  low,  or  meanly 
selfish  that  came  near  the  head  or  heart  of  Mr 
Calhoun 

"  He  has  lived  long  enough,  he  has  done  enough ; 
and  he  has  done  it  so  well,  so  successfully,  so  honor 
ably,  as  to  connect  himself  for  all  time  with  the 
records  of  his  country.  He  is  now  an  historical 
character.  Those  of  us  who  have  known  him 
here  will  find  that  he  has  left  upon  our  minds 
and  our  hearts  a  strong  and  lasting  impression 
of  his  person,  his  character,  and  his  public  per- 
formances, which,  while  we  live,  will  never  be 
obliterated.  We  shall  hereafter,  I  am  sure,  indulge 
it  as  a  greatful  recollection  that  we  have  lived  in 
his  age,  that  we  have  been  his  contemporaries, 
that  we  have  seen,  and  heard  him,  and  known  him. 
We  shall  delight  to  speak  of  him  to  those  who  are 
rising  up  to  fill  our  places.  And  when  the  time 
shall  come  that  we  ourselves  must  go,  one  after 
another,  to  our  graves,  we  shall  carry  with  us  a  deep 
sense  of  his  genius  and  character,  his  honor  and 
integrity,  his  amiable  deportment  in  private  life, 
and  the  purity  of  his  exalted  patriotism." 

Mr.  Hayne  was  a  far  more  violent  controver- 
sialist than  Mr.  Calhoun.  His  attack  upon  Mr. 
Webster  and  upon  Massachusetts  in  the  Senate  on 
Mr.  Foot's  resolution,  so  unprovoked,  so  gracefully 
18 


262  MAGNANIMITY. 

acrimonious,  called  forth  from  Mr.  Webster  what 
has  been  termed  his  "  great  speech,"  yet  when  Mr. 
Webster  visited  South  Carolina,  subsequently  to 
the  death  of  Mr.  Hayne,  he  took  occasion  to  speak 
publicly  of  his  deceased  opponent  in  the  most  re- 
spectful manner.  His  animosities,  if  he  had  any, 
seemed  to  have  been  buried  in  the  grave  of  his 
distinguished  competitor. 

We  have  dwelt  upon  this  trait  of  character  the 
longer,  because  we  desire  to  commend  it  strongly  to 
the  imitation  of  the  young.  We  all  have  opponents. 
Where  the  opposition  is  merely  one  of  opinion,  it  is 
comparatively  harmless.  We  may  differ  in  senti- 
ment without  any  interruption- of  friendly  relations. 
Yet  in  that  case  it  is  eminently  desirable  that  each 
should  treat  his  opponent  with  great  courtesy.  They 
should  be  careful  not  to  impugn  each  others  motives, 
not  to  indulge  in  criminations  and  recriminations,  not 
to  exhibit  in  tone  or  gesture  an  acrimonious  spirit. 
Each  should  strive  to  present  the  opinions  of  the 
other  with  perfect  fairness,  to  put  upon  them  the 
most  favorable  construction,  and  to  discuss  them  with 
great  candor.  No  permanent  advantage  is  ever 
gained  by  misrepresentation. 

But  when  the  opposition  extends  beyond  that  of 
opinion,  when  there  is  an  evident  intention  on  the 
part  of  an  opponent  to  inflict  upon  us  injury,  then  an 


CHARITY.  263 

opportunity  is  offered  for  the  exercise  of  magna- 
nimity. When  a  foe  has  fallen,  attempt  not  his 
ruin,  but  extend  towards  him  the  hand  of  kindness. 
Having  dffended  yourself,  there  pause.  Follow  not 
your  vanquished  opponent  with  invective.  Give  him 
credit  for  all  the  commendable  qualities  he  possesses, 
and  make  all  the  allowances  charity  can  suggest  for 
the  imperfections  of  his  character  and  the  incorrect- 
ness of  his  opinions. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

The  Human  Family  a  Brotherhood.  —  Effect  of  little  Kindnesses. 
Webster  and  Miss  Mitford.  —  Influence  of  a  Friend's  Death.  — 
Donations  of  Garden  Seeds.  —  Gives  away  a  Cow.  —  Kindness 
to  Mr.  Tappan.  —  Hungarian  Bull.  —  Gores  Mr.  Taylor.  —  Kos- 
suth. —  Mr.  Webster's  Present.  —  Charles  Brown's  Use  of  Holi- 
day Money.  —  Items  in  Mr.  Webster's  Will.  —  A  Rebuke  and 
Fifty  Dollars.  —  The  Old  Lady  on  Webster's  Farm.  —  Another 
Fifty  Dollars.  —  Webster  loans  a  Client  Money.  —  A  touching 
Story  of  a  Widow's  Poverty  and  Mr.  Webster's  Benevolence. 

THE  human  family  constitutes  one  great  brother- 
hood. Each  should  feel  an  interest  in  each.  When 
ever  an  opportunity  exists  of  removing  the  difficulties 
in  others'  paths,  of  lightening  their  burdens,  or  of 
promoting  their  elevation,  improvement,  and  happi- 
ness, the  assistance  should  be  cheerfully  rendered. 

As  human  happiness  and  misery  are  made  up  of 
the  aggregate  of  things  in  themselves  comparatively 
trivial,  encouragement  is  offered  for  all  to  labor  in 
the  field  of  benevolence.  Every  kind  word,  or  gentle 
smile,  or  unexpensive  gift  exerts  a  beneficent  influ- 
ence. It  is  like  a  gleam  of  sunshine  breaking 
through  the  clouds  in  a  dark  and  stormy  day. 
Unexpected  acts  of  favor  towards  our  fellow-pilgrims 
in  the  journey  of  life  are  ofttimes  like  the  notes  of 

264 


EFFECT    OF    KINDNESS.  266 

some  familiar  tune  sweetly  falling  upon  the  ear  of 
the  weary  traveller  when  resting  upon  the  fragments 
of  hoary  ruins  in  some  remote  wilderness,  where  he 
supposed  himself  excluded,  by  many  a  tedious 
league,  from  all  civilized  beings.  That  favorite  tune 
dispels  the  illusion,  by  the  conviction  which  it  awakens 
that  sympathetic  companionship  is  at  hand.  By  the 
power  of  association,  those  time-honored  ruins  seem 
peopled  with  familiar  forms.  The  feeling  of  loneli- 
ness is  entirely  gone.  How  many  of  life's  pilgrims 
there  are,  who,  though  surrounded  by  a  multitude, 
feel  alone  !  To  them  it  seems  as  if  there  was  "  no 
flesh  in  man's  obdurate  heart ;  it  does  not  feel  for 
man  "  —  as  if  a  great  gulf  separated  them  from  the 
mass  of  unfeeling  humanity  moving  around  them. 
Slight  attentions,  kind  words,  offices  of  friendship 
bridge  this  gulf,  and  make  them  feel  that  they  are  in 
sympathetic  communication  with  the  race.  These 
labors  of  love,  like  rays  of  heavenly  light,  banish  the 
darkness  of  their  hearts  ;  the  air  seems  filled  with 
the  melody  of  household  tunes,  awakening  in  the 
otherwise  desolate  soul  a  sense  of  brotherhood  with 
man. 

Among  the  incidents  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Webster 
which  have  been  made  public  are  a  number  illustra- 
tive of  his  thoughtful  friendship  and  benevolence. 

When  in  England,  some  dozen  years  ago,  he  was 
in  company  with  Mary  Russell  Mitford.  In  her 


266  MR.    WEBSTER    AND    MISS    MITFORD. 

«'  Recollections  of  a  Literary  Life,"  this  lady  relates  the 
following  pleasing  reminiscence  of  that  occasion  :  — 

•*  During  this  visit  a  little  circumstance  occurred, 
fio  characteristic,  so  graceful,  and  so  gracious,  that  I 
cannot  resist  the  temptation  of  relating  it.  Walking 
in  my  cottage  garden,  we  talked  naturally  of  the 
roses  and  pinks  that  surrounded  us,  and  of  the  dif- 
ferent indigenous  flowers  of  our  island  and  of  the 
United  States.  I  had  myself  had  the  satisfaction  of 
sending  to  my  friend  Mr.  Theodore  Sedgwick  a 
hamper  containing  roots  of  many  English  plants 
familiar  to  our  poetry  :  the  common  ivy,  (how  could 
they'  want  ivy  who  had  had  no  time  for  ruins  ?)  the 
primrose,  and  the  cowslip,  immortalized  by  Shak- 
speare  and  by  Milton  ;  and  the  sweet-scented  violets, 
both  white  and  purple,  of  our  hedgerows  and  our 
lanes ;  that  known  as  the  violet  in  America,  (Mr. 
Bryant  somewhere  speaks  of  it  as  «  the  yellow  violet,') 
being,  I  suspect,  the  little  wild  pansy,  (viola  tricolor,) 
renowned  as  the  love-in-idleness  of  Shakspeare's 
famous  compliment  to  Queen  Elizabeth.  Of  these  we 
spoke ;  and  I  expressed  an  interest  in  two  flowers, 
known  to  me  only  by  the  vivid  description  of  Miss 
Marti neau  — the  scarlet  lily  of  New  York  and  of  the 
Canadian  woods,  and  the  fringed  gentian  of  Niagara. 
I  observed  that  our  illustrious  guest  made  some 
remark  to  one  of  the  ladies  of  the  party ;  but  I 
little  expected  that,  as  soon  after  his  return  as  seeds 


VALUE    OF    TOKENS.  267 

of  these  plants  could  be  procured,  I  should  receive  a 
package  of  each,  signed  and  directed  by  his  own 
hand.  How  much  pleasure  these  little  kindnesses 
give  !  And  how  many  such  have  come  to  me  from 
over  the  same  wide  ocean !  " 

Here  an  interest  in  certain  flowers,  expressed  by  a 
lady  in  casual  conversation,  was  remembered  for 
months,  and  was  the  means  of  inducing  him  to  send, 
unasked,  a  package  three  thousand  miles,  signed 
and  directed  by  his  own  hand,  that  she  might  enjoy 
the  gratification  of  raising  the  flowers  for  herself 
The  plants  produced  by  those  seeds  were  no  doubt 
highly  prized  by  the  gifted  authoress ;  and  now  that 
he  who  sent  them  has  passed  away,  they  will  be  held 
in  higher  estimation  than  ever.  How  strange  it  is 
that  the  death  of  a  friend  enhances  the  value  of  all 
the  tokens  of  his  kindness  !  Gifts,  of  which  we  were 
unmindful  while  their  donor  was  alive,  become 
treasured  mementoes  of  his  love,  when  the  hand  that 
gave  them  is  mouldering  in  the  tomb.  In  such 
treasures  not  a  few  have  been  made  rich  by  the 
demise  of  the  great  statesman.  Trees  of  grafts  cut 
from  his  orchards,  animals  reared  from  stock  on 
his  farm,  plants  raised  from  seed  received  from  his 
hands,  to  say  nothing  of  tokens  of  other  kinds,  and 
especially  letters  in  which  he  has  poured  out  the 
fulness  of  his  heart,  though  valued  before,  will  now 
be  more  highly  prized  than  ever. 


268  DONATIONS    OF    SEEDS. 

. 

When  Mr.  Webster  was  in  Congress,  be  was  ac 
customed  to  receive  from  different  quarters  seeds  of 
various  kinds.  Tliese  he  neither  sold  nor  monopo- 
lized for  himself.  Being  greatly  interested  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  he  was  desirous  of  diffusing  as  far 
as  possible  all  kinds  of  crops.  For  this  reason  he 
gave  away  the  seeds  which  he  received,  that  the 
farmers  might  experiment  with  them  upon  their 
different  kinds  of  soil.  In  that  beautiful  letter  to 
John  Taylor,  containing  such  a  mingling  of  gravity 
and  cheerfulness,  sober  politics  and  minute  farming 
directions,  where  there  is  such  a  singular  blending 
of  incongruous  objects  as  "  pennyroyal  crops," 
"  little  wife,"  "  my  mother's  garden,"  and  "  the 
graves  of  my  family,"  he  says,  "  I  have  sent  you 
many  garden  seeds.  Distribute  them  among  your 
neighbors.  Send  them  to  the  stores  in  the  village," 
(not  to  sell ;  no,  no,  but)  "  that  every  body  may  have 
part  of  them  urithout  cost" 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  the  history  of 
some  of  those  seeds.  What  were  they  1  which  of 
them  were  successfully  raised  1  how  did  they  com- 
pare with  other  crops  of  the  same  kind  7  did  any 
of  them  introduce  new  species  ?  in  what  respects 
was  their  introduction  an  improvement  1  has  a  suc- 
cession of  crops  been  raised  from  these  seeds  1  how 
have  those,  crops  turned  out  as  to  quality  and 
quantity  ? 


AN    OLD    ACQUAINTANCE.  269 

If  we  had  the  means  of  answering  these  ques- 
tions, it  would  not  be  at  all  surprising  to  learn  that 
new  and  important  additions  had  been  made  to 
certain  departments  of  the  agricultural  interest  by 
seeds  received  through  the  thoughtful  attention  of 
the  farmer  statesman. 

But  Mr.  Webster  not  only  gave  away  seeds. 
When  occasion  required  it,  he  was  willing  to  part 
with  more  important  articles.  He  was  especially 
considerate  towards  his  unfortunate  neighbors. 
Such  was  his  accessibleness  when  at  home,  that  the 
fanners  in  his  vicinity  freely  approached  him  and 
related  their  embarrassments.  Those  who  had 
been  acquainted  with  him  in  his  early  years  made 
capital  of  their  former  friendship  in  appealing  to  his 
benevolence. 

On  one  occasion,  when  confined  by  illness  to  his 
room  at  Marshfield,  an  old  friend  who  resided  at  a 
distance  of  thirty  miles  called  to  see  him.  He  was 
at  once  admitted  to  the  chamber.  At  first  the 
conversation  was  upon  "  days  of  auld  lang  syne." 
They  each  drew  upon  their  store  of  reminiscences, 
and  lived  old  scenes  over  again.  After  some  time 
had  been  spent  in  this  delightful  manner,  the  visitor 
entered  upon  his  tale  of  woe,  and  related  the  various 
misfortunes  which  he  had  experienced.  He  seems 
to  have  been  in  reduced  circumstances,  for  in  the 
conversation  he  incidentally  expressed  his  earnest 


270  GIVES    AWAY    A    COW. 

desire  to  obtain  a  good  cow.  The  invalid  listened 
attentively  to  every  word  he  uttered,  but  made  no 
reply.  When  the  friend  had  finished  the  story  of 
his  sorrows,  and  arose  to  leave,  Mr.  Webster  called 
Mr.  Porter  Wright,  the  superintendent  of  his  farm, 
into  his  presence,  and  gave  him  instructions  to  show 
his  friend  the  cattle  which  were  on  the  farm,  and 
then  present  him  with  any  cow  which  he  might 
be  pleased  to  select  from  the  number.  The  herd 
was  examined,  and  the  visitor  made  choice  of  a  fine 
Alderney,  valued  at  fifty  dollars,  which  was  cheer- 
fully given  him  by  his  invalid  friend.  He  went 
away  rejoicing.  "  And  this  is  only  one  of  many 
similar  instances  which  might  and  will  be  recorded 
of  the  astonishing  liberality  of  Mr.  Webster." 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  fact  that  when 
his  early  teacher,  Mr.  Tappan,  was  reduced  to 
poverty,  in  his  old  age,  he  sent  him  at  one  time  fifty, 
and  at  another  time  twenty  dollars  for  his  relief. 
The  delicacy  with '  which  it  was  done  —  the  words 
of  affectionate  sympathy  which  accompanied  these 
substantial  tokens  of  friendship  —  must  have  rendered 
the  donation  doubly  acceptable. 

On  the  Elms  Farm,  at  Franklin,  Mr.  Webster  had 
a  bull  of  the  Hungarian  breed.  It  was  young, 
large,  and  beautiful,  weighing  about  two  thousand 
pounds,  with  a  neck  more  than  six  feet  in  circum- 
ference, and  of  a  delicate  light  slate  color.  It  was  an 


HUNGARIAN    BULL.  271 

object  of  special  interest  to  those  who  visited  the 
place.  On  one  occasion,  Mr.  John  Taylor  was  in 
the  field  with  it,  when,  without  provocation,  the 
animal  suddenly  became  enraged,  rushed  upon  him, 
gored  him  with  his  horns,  tossed  him  high  in  the 
air,  and,  after  he  had  fallen,  trampled  him  under  his 
hoofs,  injuring  him  severely.  He  would  probably 
have  been  wounded  much  more  dangerously  if  he 
had  not  seized  and  held  on  to  the  ring  which  orna- 
mented the  bull's  nose.  As  it  was,  he  had  a  very 
narrow  escape  from  death. 

Mr.  Webster  heard  in  Boston  that  the  superin- 
tendent of  his  farm  was  injured,  but  he  knew  not  the 
particulars.  It  being  the  season  of  the  year  when 
he  was  accustomed  to  make  his  annual  visit  there, 
he  was  soon  on  his  way  to  Franklin.  When  he 
reached  Concord,  where  he  heard  the  particulars  of 
the  affair,  and  learned  that  his  life  was  considered  in 
danger,  he  was  deeply  afflicted,  and  manifested  great 
anxiety  to  pursue  his  journey.  As  soon  as  he 
arrived  at  home,  he  hastened  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Taylor,  whom  he  found  prostrate  upon  his  bed, 
enduring  the  severe  sufferings  of  a  dislocated 
shoulder,  a  dreadfully  bruised  breast,  and  a  deep 
wound  in  his  thigh,  some  seven  inches  long.  Mr. 
Webster  was  filled  with  solicitude  for  his  friend. 
He  inquired  the  opinion  of  the  physician,  and  when 


272  SALMON    AND    GRAPES. 

he  learned  that  he  had  pronounced  him  out  of 
danger,  he  was  greatly  relieved. 

Mr.  Taylor,  doubtless,  in  order  that  he  might 
allay  the  anxiety  of  Mr.  Webster,  gave  quite  an 
amusing  narrative  of  his  rencounter  with  the  enraged 
animal,  and  of  other  feats  which  it  had  performed. 
"  Do  you  think  the  creature  is  dangerous  ?  "  asked 
Mr.  W.,  "  and  ought  to  be  chained  ?  " 

"  Why,"  replied  Taylor,  "  he  is  no  more  fit  to 
go  abroad  than  your  friend  Governor  Kossuth  him- 
self." 

"  Rather  strong  language  this,"  humorously  re- 
plied Mr.  W. ;  "  but  when  a  man  has  been  gored  al- 
most to  death  by  an  Hungarian  bull,  it  is  not  strange 
that  he  should  be  severe  upon  the  Hungarian  gov- 
ernor." 

We  have  related  this  painful  incident  in  order  to 
say  that  when  Mr.  W.  first  heard  of  it  in  Boston, 
not,  however,  imagining  the  extent  of  its  severity, 
he  immediately  determined  to  take  Mr.  Taylor  a 
present  of  something  which  he  supposed  would  be 
appropriate  to  one  in  his  condition.  He  looked 
around,  and  made  the  necessary  purchase.  When 
he  arrived  at  Elms  Farm,  he  gladdened  the  heart  of 
the  wounded  man  by  the  donation  of  a  basket  of 
grapes  and  afresh  salmon,  brought  purposely  for  him 
from  Boston.  The  present  was  worthy  of  a  noblo 


ECONOMICAL,    SERVANT.  273 

man,  and  they  were  noblemen  of  nature's  mould 
who  gave  and  received  it. 

O,  how  greatly  such  acts  of  friendly  attention 
smooth  the  sharp  asperities  of  life  !  How  they  pour 
the  oil  of  gladness  into  the  wounded  spirit !  A  bou- 
quet of  flowers,  a  little  fruit,  or  pleasant  confection, 
sent  into  the  room  of  the  invalid,  are  odorous  with 
the  fragrance  of  affection  they  are  little  tokens 
of  remembrance  ;  they  show  the  sufferer  that  he  is 
not  forgotten  by  the  absent,  but  is  thought  of  with 
interest,  and  his  happiness  desired. 

Mr.  Webster  seems  to  have  be^n  particularly  kind 
to  those  in  his  employ.  He  had  in  Washington  a 
colored  man  of  the  name  of  Charles  Brown,  who 
was  his  servant  for  nearly  thirty  years.  He  was  a 
worthy,  trusty  person.  Mr.  Webster  appreciated  his 
qualities,  and  was  accustomed  to  give  him  money  to 
spend  on  holidays  and  other  times,  in  addition,  as  we 
suppose,  to  his  support.  A  few  years  ago  he  ascer- 
tained that  this  servant  had  bought  a  piece  of  land, 
and  had  erected  a  small,  yet  comfortable  house. 

"  Where  did  you  get  money  to  purchase  so  fine 
a  house  1 "  asked  he. 

"  I  am  glad  to  say,  sir,"  replied  Brown,  "  that  it 
all  came  out  of  your  pocket.  It  is  the  money  which 
you  have  given  me  on  holidays  and  at  other  times." 

It  would  seem  from  this  that  the  spending-money 


274  MR.  WEBSTER'S  WILL. 

given    to    this    servant    must  have    been  somewhat 
liberal. 

A  similar  spirit  was  developed  by  Mr.  Webster  in 
the  folio  win  "•  "  items  "  in  his  last  will  and  testa- 

O 

me  nt :  — 

"  Item.  My  servant  William  Johnson  is  a  free 
man.  I  bought  his  freedom  not  long  ago  for  six 
hundred  dollars.  No  demand  is  to  be  made  upon 
him  for  any  portion  of  this  sum,  but  so  long  as  is 
agreeable,  I  hope  he  will  remain  with  the  family. 

"  Item.  Monicha  McCarty,  Sarah  Smith,  and 
Ann  Bean,  colored  persons,  now,  also,  and  for  a 
long  time  in  my  service,  are  all  free.  They  are 
very  well  deserving,  and  whoever  comes  after  me 
must  be  kind  to  them." 

Public  men,  especially  if  they  have  the  reputation 
of  wealth  and  liberality,  are  frequently  called  v  pon 
by  private  individuals  for  donations  to  various  ob- 
jects. In  these  calls  the  proprieties  of  time  and 
circumstance  are  not  always  regarded.  Sometimes, 
instead  of  donations,  reproofs  are  received.  On 
one  occasion,  Mr.  Webster  gave  both.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  facts  :  — 

A  lady  called  upon  him  in  Washington,  and  relat- 
ed a  long  and  mournful  story  about  her  afflictions, 
stating  that  she  was  very  poor  ;  that  she  resided  in 
a  western  city;  that  she  had  not  sufficient  money  to 


A    LADY    SOLICITOR.  275 

reach  her  home,  and  then  asked  him  to  assist  her. 
He  listened  with  some  degree  of  impatience  to  her 
tale,  expressed  his  surprise  that  she,  a  total  stranger, 
should  feel  at  liberty  to  call  on  him  for  the  purpose 
of  soliciting  charity,  simply  because  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  government ;  and,  after  administer- 
ing a  plain  reprimand  for  her  improper  conduct,  he 
closed  the  interview  by  presenting  her  with  fifty 
dollars. 

It  is  sometimes  a  difficult  task  to  decide  upon  the 
path  of  duty  in  such  cases.  It  is  so  easy  to  be  de- 
ceived by  impostors,  and  such  deceptions  occur  so 
frequently,  that  we  know  not,  when  a  stranger  asks 
for  assistance,  whether  it  may  not  be  one  of  this  class. 
A  safe  course  would  be  to  require  corroborating 
evidence  of  the  facts  in  the  case,  in  addition  to  the 
statements  of  the  solicitor.  And  even  then  decep- 
tion would  not  be  impossible  ;  for  such  corroborat- 
ing evidence  might  be  abundantly  furnished,  and  the 
whole  be  based  upon  falsehood. 

To  another  woman  he  gave  a  similar  amount,  but 
under  very  different  circumstances.  The  incident  is 
highly  interesting. 

In  the  early  part  of  his  professional  career,  when  he 
was  practising  law  in  Portsmouth,  one  of  his  clients, 
whom  he  had  conducted  successfully  through  a  some- 
what difficult  suit,  was  unable  to  pay  him  his  fees. 
He  therefore  insisted  upon  giving  him  the  deed  of  a 


276       WEBSTER  AND  THE  OLD  LADY. 

certain  lot  of  land  in  a  neighboring  county.  The 
matter  was  adjusted  by  the  acceptance  of  this  deed. 
Where  the  land  was,  or  what  was  its  quality,  Mr. 
Webster  knew  not.  After  many  years  had  passed 
away,  he  had  occasion  to  visit  this  county.  It  oc- 
curred to  him  that  perhaps  it  would  be  well  to  look 
up  the  land,  and  ascertain  its  condition.  He  went 
to  work  for  that  purpose.  He  made  his  inquiries, 
and,  after  following  the  directions  which  were  given 
him,  he  discovered  the  property.  Upon  it  was  an 
old  house,  built  among  the  rocks,  which  appeared  to 
be  inhabited.  He  knocked  at  the  door,  and  entered. 
He  found  it  was  occupied  by  an  old  woman,  who, 
hermit-like,  lived  there  all  alone.  He  entered  into 
familiar  conversation  with  her,  and  asked  who  owned 
the  place.  She  told  him  that  it  belonged  to  a  law- 
yer, by  the  name  of  Webster ;  and  she  was  expect- 
ing every  day  that  he  would  come  and  turn  her  out 
of  doors.  She  little  knew  the  character  of  that 
Webster.  After  some  further  inquiries,  he  surprised 
the  old  lady  by  the  announcement  that  he  was  law- 
yer Webster,  the  owner  of  the  place,  but  that  she 
need  not  fear  thai  he  had  come  to  warn  her  out. 
That  was  far  from  his  intention.  After  allaying  her 
apprehensions,  he  sat  down  at  her  table,  partook  of 
such  refreshments  as  the  humble  hut  afforded,  and 
then  departed,  leaving  the  old  lady  a  donation  of 
ffty  dollars. 


WEBSTER    AND    HIS    POOR     CLIENT.  277 

Ever  since  then,  that  rocky  spot  has  heen  desig 
nated  "  Webster's  Farm." 

This,  however,  was  not  the  limit  of  his  donations. 
When  occasion  required,  he  gave  more  largely. 
He  was  a  large-hearted  man.  Says  Mr.  Lanman, 
— "  The  following  well-authenticated  fact  was  re- 
lated to  the  writer  by  an  eye  witness,  and  is  only  a 
specimen  of  many  that  might  he  mentioned,  tending 
to  illustrate  the  character  of  Mr.  Webster's  heart. 
Somewhere  about  the  year  1826,  a  certain  gentleman 
residing  in  Boston  was  thrown  into  almost  inextricable 
difficulties  by  the  failure  of  a  house  for  which  he  had 
become  responsible  to  a  large  amount.  He  needed 
legal  advice,  and  being  disheartened,  he  desired  the 
author  of  this  anecdote  to  go  with  him  and  relate  his 
condition  to  Mr.  Web«ter.  The  lawyer  heard  the 
story  entirely  through,  advised  his  client  what  to  do, 
and  to  do  it  immediately,  and  requested  him  to  call 
again  in  a  few  days.  After  the  gentlemen  had  left 
Mr.  Webster's  office,  he  came  hurriedly  to  the  door, 
called  upon  the  gentlemen  to  stop  a  moment,  and 
having  approached  them  with  his  pocket  book  in 
hand,  he  thus  addressed  his  client :  <  It  seems  to 
me,  my  good  sir,  if  T  understood  your  case  rightly, 
you  are  entirely  naked ;  is  it  go  ?' 

The  client  replied  that  he  was  indeed  penniless, 
and  then  of  course  expected  a  demand  for  a  retain- 
ing fee.  Instead  of  that  demand,  however,  Mr 
19 


278        MR.    WEBSTER    AND    HIS    POOR    CLIENT. 

Webster  kindly  remarked,  as  he  handed  the  client  a 
bill  for  Jive  hundred  dollars,  — 

" « Well,  there,  take  that :  it  is  all  I  have  by  me 
now.  I  wish  it  was  more  ;  and  if  you  are  ever  able, 
you  must  pay  it  back  again.' 

"  The  client  was  overcome,  and  it  may  be  well 
imagined  that  he  has  ever  since  been  a  '  Webster 
man.'  Surely  a  man  who  can  command  the  admira- 
tion of  the  world  by  the  efforts  of  his  gigantic 
intellect,  and  also  possesses  the  above  self-sacrificing 
habit  of  making  friends,  must  indeed  be  a  great  and 
a  good  man." 

To  all  intents  this  was  a  donation.  He  knew  not 
that  the  man  would  ever  be  in  a  condition  to  refund 
the  money  ;  he  let  him  have  it  subject  to  that  con- 
tingency. It  was  to  be  a  loan  if  the  man  ever  had 
the  ability  to  return  it;  if  otherwise,  it  was  a  gift. 

This  chapter  cannot  be  more  appropriately  closed 
than  with  the  following  deeply-affecting  narrative 
which  is  equally  illustrative  of  Mr.  Webster's  benev- 
olence and  piety.  Rather  than  mar  the  account  by 
presenting  it  in  our  own  language,  we  give  it  as  it 
appeared  in  the  National  Intelligencer. 

"  In  answer  to  some  fanatical  inputations  on  Mr. 
Webster's  religious  principles,  because  of  his  support 
of  the  compromise  measures,  a  widow  lady,  who 
resided  in  the  vicinity  of  Mr.  W.'s  early  home,  said,  — 

•«'  Mr.  Webster  an  infidel !     I  cannot  believe  that 


MR.    W£BSTER    AND    THE    WIDOW.  279 

[  have  known  him  long,  and,  if  it  would  not  savor 
too  much  of  egotism,  I  could  relate  some  incidents 
that  would,  I  think,  convince  you  that,  whatever  his 
political  views  may  have  been,  he  certainly  was  not 
an  infidel.' 

"  She  was  requested  to  do  so,  and  accordingly 
wrote  the  following  :  — 

"  '  Mr.  Webster  and  my  husband  became  acquaint- 
ed in  early  life,  and  the  friendship  of  youth  extended 
to  riper  years.  They  were  truly  congenial  spirits, 
and  sought  each  other's  society  as  much  as  possible. 
But  the  cares  of  business  at  length  separated  them, 
and  for  many  years  they  seldom  met.  My  husband 
settled  down  in  this  place,  and  Mr.  Webster  went 
forth  to  battle  for  the  right  in  the  councils  of  the 
nation. 

"  '  For  some  time  we  were  greatly  prospered.  A 
lucrative  business  brought  us  wealth  almost  beyond 
our  hopes.  Two  children  came  like  a  sunbeam  to 
light  up  our  happy  home  with  their  joyous  smiles, 
and  to  cheer  our  spirits  with  their  innocent  prattle. 
Those  were  happy  days,  and  I  love  to  recall  them- 
But  alas !  they  were  soon  covered  with  clouds  of 
darkness,  that  even  the  eye  of  faith  could  hardly 
penetrate. 

"  '  Some  of  the  firms  in  which  my  husband's  funds 
were  placed  became  involved,  and  our  little  all  was 


280  MK.    WEBSTER    AND    THE    WIDOW. 

swept  from  our  grasp.  When  he  found  that  every 
effort  to  recover  it  but  plunged  him  deeper  into 
difficulty,  he  became  disheartened.  Soon  his  health 
failed,  and  he  was  compelled  to  give  up  his  business 
entirely.  He  then  sold  the  shop,  and  what  else  we 
could  spare,  and  with  the  avails  paid  every  debt 
except  one.  This  was  due  to  a  friend  who  chose 
to  wait  for  his  money  rather  than  take  from  us  the 
cottage  where  we  lived,  the  only  property  we  could 
then  call  our  own. 

"  '  But  hardly  was  the  arrangement  made  when  the 
gentleman  died,  leaving  the  note  in  the  hands  of  one 
who  knew  not  how  to  show  mercy.  He  demanded 
immediate  payment,  and  we  were  about  to  sell  our 
house  when  our  oldest  child  was  taken  down  with  a 
fever,  and  soon  left  us,  as  we  hope,  for  a  better 
world.  The  same  disease  prostrated  my  husband ; 
and  when  the  physician  told  me  he  must  die,  I  felt 
that  my  cup  of  sorrow  was  full.  But  no  ;  I  was 
mistaken. 

" « There  was  yet  another  drop  to  be  mingled  in 
that  cup  of  bitterness.  While  my  husband  yet  lin- 
gered between  life  and  death,  my  daughter,  the  oniy 
remaining  child,  was  taken  sick  also,  and  after  five 
days'  suffering,  she  too  left  us,  to  rejoin  her  brother 
in  the  "  spirit  land." 

«« « Do  you  ask  how  I  bore  this  second  bereave- 


MR.    WEBSTER    AND    THE    WIDOW.  281 

ment  1  I  believe  I  had  not  leisure  to  think  of  it 
All  my  time,  all  my  attention,  were  given  to  my 
husband,  who  was  slowly  but  surely  going  down  to 
the  grave.  I  had  even  forgotten  the  hard-hearted 
creditor.  But  he  did  not  forget.  Inexorable  as 
death  itself,  he  came  at  the  time  appointed,  and 
demanded  the  money.  I  think  he  must  have 
been  intoxicated,  for  I  am  sure  no  man  in  his 
sober  senses  could  have  been  so  cruel.  I  told  him 
rny  husband  was  dying ;  but  he  replied,  "  Sorry, 
sorry  to  hear  it.  He  won't  earn  any  more  money, 
and,  as  you  can't  pay  up,  I'll  just  take  the  house. 
You  can  live  somewhere  else,  as  you  have  no  one  to 
look  after."  I  interrupted  his  cruel  remarks,  and, 
thinking  to  move  his  feelings,  I  led  him  to  the  room 
where  lay  the  cold  form  of  my  child. 

"  '  Vain  hope  !  I  might  as  well  have  tried  to 
move  an  iceberg.  After  much  entreaty,  I  obtained 
permission  to  remain  in  the  house  while  my  loved 
one  lived,  on  condition  that  I  gave  up  the  furniture. 
This  I  promised,  that  I  might  no  more  be  troubled 
with  his  loathsome  presence. 

"  '  The  man  left  me,  and  I  sank  into  a  chair, 
utterly  overcome  at  the  prospect  of  the  desolation 
before  me.  At  that  moment  I  heard  a  rap  at  the 
door.  I  could  not  rise  to  obey  the  summons.  I 
felt  that  my  heart  was  breaking  But  the  door 


282  PRAYER    AND    BENEVOLENCE. 

slowly  opened,  and  Mr  Webster  stood  before  me. 
He  had  come  home  on  a  visit,  and,  without  know- 
ing any  thing  of  our  sorrows,  he  rode  over  to  see 
and  embrace  his  early  friend.  What  was  his  sur- 
prise to  find  him  thus !  And  when  the  story  of  our 
troubles  had  been  told,  when  he  had  assured  himself 
that  his  long-cherished  friend  had  but.  a  few  more 
hours  to  live,  he  sat  down  and  wept. 

"  « Then  he  asked  to  see  the  corpse  of  his  little 
pet,  who,  when  he  last  visited  us,  sat  upon  his  knee 
and  played  with  his  watch.  As  he  rose  to  leave  the 
bed,  my  husband  said  in  a  w,hisper,  "  Fetch  her  to  me, 
that  I  too  may  look  upon  her  sweet  face  once  more." 

" '  We  placed  the  still  beautiful  form  beside  the 
bed,  and  standing  near  it,  gave  ourselves  up  to  un- 
controllable grief.  When  able  to  command  his 
voice,  Mr.  W.  said,  «« Let  us  pray."  And  kneeling 
there,  beside  the  dying  and  the  dead,  he  prayed  as 
none  but  a  Christian  can  pray.  Sure  I  am  that  a 
prayer  so  earnest,  so  full  of  faith  and  hope  in  the 
Redeemer,  was  never  poured  forth  from  the  lips  of 
an  infidel. 

" '  Gladly  would  he  have  stopped  with  us  through 
the  night ;  but  business  forbade  his  stay.  He  left 
us,  and  as  he  grasped  for  the  last  time  the  hand  of 
bis  dying  friend,  those  pale  features  were  lighted  up 
with  a  smile  of  hope,  such  as  they  had  not  worn  for 


PRAYER    AND    BENEVOLENCE.  283 

many  a  da.y.  The  troubled  spirit  was  at  rest,  for  the 
assurance  had  been  given  that  the  widow  should  be 
provided  for  in  her  affliction. 

" «  My  husband  died  the  next  day.  I  saw  no  more 
of  the  hard-hearted  creditor,  and  the  house  remained 
unsold.  I  still  occupy  it,  and  the  room  where  Mr. 
Webster  kneeled  in  prayer  is  to  me  a  sacred  place.' " 


CHAPTER    XVI.     . 

r 

Mr.  Webster  never  out  of  Order.  —  Sings  with  an  old  Lady.  — 
Religious  Allusions.  —  The  Bible  is  "the  Book.'  —  Piety  of 
his  Brother  Ezekiel.  —  An  Evening  Scene  and  Scripture  Quo- 
tation. —  Mr.  Webster's  Remarks  on  Job.  —  He  prefers  John.  — 
Constant  in  Attendance  on  Public  Worship.  —  His  Opinion 
of  Sermonizing.  —  His  Opinion  of  Prayer. —  Mr.  Kirk's  Ser- 
mon. —  Mr.  Webster's  Remarks  upon  it.  —  Believer  in  the  Atone- 

*  ment.  —  Requests  Pra3rer  on  board  a  Steamboat.  —  Influence  of 
Prayer. —  Arithmetic  of  Heaven. —  His  Religious  Views. — 
Pleased  with  Dr.  Waits's  Hymns.  —  Mr.  Alden's  Eulogy.— 
Recognition  of  Divine  Providence.  —  Evidences  of  Christian- 
ity. —  Writes  the  Inscription  for  his  own  Monument.  —  Its 
Importance. 

A  QUESTION  in  which  a  large  portion  of  the  com- 
munity cherish  a  deep  interest  is  that  which  has  re- 
spect to  the  religious  opinions  and  character  of  our 
most  eminent  statesmen.  That  there  are  any  among 
them  addicted  to  profanity,  drunkenness,  and  other 
immoralities,  is  an  occasion  of  grief  and  humilia- 
tion. An  account  of  the  disgraceful,  belligerent 
scenes  which  have  occasionally  transpired  in  Con- 
gress has  sent  a  wave  of  sadness  throughout  the 
land.  Such  occurrences  have  been  deplored  ooth 
publicly  and  privately.  They  have  furnished  topics 
for  penitential  confession  and  earnest  prayer  in  the 
services  of  the  sanctuary,  and  in  the  private  devo- 

284 


QUALIFICATIONS    FOR    OFFICE.  285 

tions  of  the  closet.  It  will  be  a  fortunate  clay  for 
our  country  when  immorality  of  character,  or  a 
positive  disregard  for  Christianity,  shall  be  sufficient 
to  prevent  the  election  of  any  individual,  however 
eminent  he  may  be  in  other  respects,  to  any  office 
of  responsibility.  In  canvassing  the  qualifications 
of  candidates,  the  time  has  come  when  a  higher 
estimate  should  be  placed  upon  moral  requisites. 
We  need  men  of  good  hearts,  as  well  as  strong 
minds.  Integrity  of  character  should  be  the  ballast 
of  the  ship  of  state  ;  and  this  should  be  developed 
not  only  in  the  laws  which  are  passed,  but  in  those 
who  enact  and  execute  them. 

With  reference  to  Mr.  Webster,  it  is  stated  that 
during  his  long  congressional  career,  though  he  was 
frequently  placed  in  circumstances  of  the  most  ex- 
citing character,  and  was  ofttimes  the  subject  of 
personal  and  irritating  allusion,  he  never  departed 
from  the  proprieties  of  debate.  He  was  neier  called 
to  order.  If  this  rigid  adherence  to  the  rules  of 
parliamentary  decorum  had  been  imitated  by  others, 
the  various  scenes  of  congressional  rowdyism  which 
have  dishonored  the  halls  of  our  national  legislation 
would  have  been  avoided. 

But  Mr.  Webster  was  governed  by  something 
higher  than  a  mere  regard  to  decorum.  He  knew 
that  the  character  of  his  country  was,  in  the  opinion 
of  foreign  nations,  implicated  in  these  scenes  of 


286     MR.  WEBSTER  AND  AN  OLD  WOMAN. 

disorder,  and  that  they  were  at  variance  with  thai 
spirit  of  good  will  towards  others  which  is  so  prom- 
inent and  beautiful  an  element  of  Christianity. 
Patriotism  and  religion  combined  to  guide  his 
course. 

His  parents,  as  we  have  seen,  were  Christians  of 
the  Puritan  stock.  His  "  excellent  mother  "  in- 
stilled into  liis  mind,  from  his  earliest  childhood, 
sentiments  of  piety.  He  was,  when  quite  young, 
taught  the  Catechism  and  the  hymns  of  Dr.  Watts, 
The  history  and  precepts  of  the  Scriptures  were 
also  impressed  upon  his  mind.  He  was  taught  to 
regard  the  Sabbath  and  to  reverence  the  institution 
of  Christianity.  These  early  influences  were  not  in 
vain.  He  became  hopefully  pious,  and,  when-  a 
young  man,  united  with  the  Orthodox  Congrega- 
tional Church.  He  had,  even  at  that  time,  attained 
to  such  a  reputation,  that  the  following  incident, 
comparatively  trifling  in  itself,  which  occurred  then, 
is  remembered  to  the  present  day.  On  the  occasion 
of  his  making  a  public  profession  of  religion,  the 
only  occupant  of  the  same  pew  with  him  was  a 
"  very  poor,  and  a  very  old,  woman."  The  service 
was  closed  with  singing.  After  Mr.  Webster  had 
found  the  hymn,  he  offered  a  part  of  the  book  to 
the  poor  woman,  and  they  both  sang  together  from 
the  same  page  —  a  beautiful  symbol  of  the  union 
existing  between  the  piety  of  youth  and  that  of  age. 


HIS    ALLUSIONS    TO    RELIGION.  28? 

Even  though  their  voices  might  have  been  discord- 
ant, they  were  one  in  spirit.  This  pleasant  incident 
is  still  a  topic  of  fireside  conversation  among  the 
members  of  the  parish. 

When  he  delivered  his  Fourth  of  July  Oration  at 
Hanover,  during  his  collegiate  course,  he  took  occa- 
sion to  express  the  obligations  of  the  people  to  cher- 
ish sentiments  of  thanksgiving  towards  the  Ruler  of 
nations  for  the  blessings  they  enjoyed.  His  lan- 
guage was  as  follows :  "  If  piety  be  the  rational 
exercise  of  the  human  soul,  if  religion  be  not  a 
chimera,  and  if  the  vestiges  of  heavenly  assistance 
are  clearly  traced  in  those  events  which  mark  the 
annals  of  our  nation,  it  becomes  us  on  this  day,  in 
consideration  of  the  great  things  which  have  been 
done  for  us,  to  render  the  tribute  of  unfeigned 
thanks  to  that  God  who  superintends  the  universe, 
and  holds  aloft  the  scale  that  weighs  the  destinies 
of  nations." 

These  sentiments  are  important.  They  are  wor- 
thy of  being  incorporated  in  every  oration  on  our 
national  anniversary.  We  should  never  forgel  our 
indebtedness  to  the  Ruler  of  nations  for  the  political 
freedom  with  which  he  has  blessed  us.  The  Fourth 
of  July  ought  to  be  a  day  of  national  thanksgiving. 
With  our  various  demonstrations  of  joy  there  should 
be  mingled  feelings  of  devout  gratitude.  Of  this 


288  HIS    LOVE    FOR   THE    BIBLE. 

the  youthful  orator  was  convinced,  and  has  earnestly 
expressed  it  in  the  quotation  we  have  given. 

Being  a  firm  believer  in  the  divine  origin  of  the 
Scriptures,  he  has  on  various  occasions  expressed 
himself  warmly  upon  the  importance  of  making 
them  a  subject  of  study. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Commercial  Advertiser 
says,  — 

"  Some  years  ago  we  had  the  pleasure  of  spend- 
ing several  days  in  company  with  Mr.  Webster  at 
the  residence  of  a  mutual  friend,  Harvey  Ely,  Esq., 
at  Rochester.  During  that  intercourse,  we  had  more 
than  one  opportunity  of  conversing  on  religious  sub- 
jects —  sometimes  on  doctrinal  points,  but  more  gen- 
erally on  the  importance  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as 
containing  the  plan  of  man's  salvation,  through  the 
atonement  of  Christ.  So  far  as  our  knowledge  of 
the  subject  extends,  Mr  Webster  was  as  orthodox  as 
any  we  ever  conversed  with. 

"  On  one  occasion,  when  seated  in  the  drawing 
room  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ely,  Mr.  Webster  laid  his 
hand  on  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures,  saying,  with  great 
emphasis,  '  This  is  the  book  ! '  This  led  to  a  con- 
versation on  the  importance  of  the  Scriptures,  and 
the  too  frequent  neglect  of  the  study  of  the  Bible  by 
gentlemen  of  the  legal  profession,  their  pursuits  in 
life  leading  them  to  the  almost  exclusive  study  of 
works  having  reference  to  their  profession.  Mf 


PIETY    OF     HIS    BROTHER.  289 

Webster  said,  '  I  have  read  through  the  entire  Bible 
many  times.  I  now  make  a  practice  to  go  through 
it  once  a  year.  It  is  the  book  of  all  others  for  law- 
yers as  well  as  for  divines  ;  and  I  pity  the  man  that 
cannot  find  in  it  a  rich  supply  of  thought,  and  of 
rules  for  his  conduct ;  it  fits  man  for  life  —  it  pre- 
pares him  for  death.' 

"  The  conversation  then  turned  upon  sudden 
deaths  ;  and  Mr.  Webster  adverted  to  the  then  re- 
cent death  of  his  brother,«who  expired  suddenly  at 
Concord,  N.  H.  «  My  brother,'  he  continued,  '  knew 
the  importance  of  Bible  truths.  The  Bible  led  him 
to  prayer,  and  prayer  was  his  communion  with  God. 
On  the  day  on  which  he  died,  he  was  engaged  in  an 
important  cause  in  the  court  then  in  session.  But  this 
cause,  important  as  it  was,  did  not  keep  him  from  his 
duty  to  his  God  ;  he  found  time  for  prayer,  fo*  on  the 
desk  which  he  had  just  left  was  found  a  paper  writ- 
ten by  him  on  that  day,  which  for  fervent  piety,  a 
devoted  ness  to  his  heavenly  Master,  and  for  expres- 
sions of- humility,  I  think  was  never  excelled.' 

"  Mr.  Webster  then  mentioned  the  satisfaction  he 
had  derived  from  the  preaching  of  certain  clergymen, 
observing  that  «  men  were  so  constituted,  that  we 
oould  not  all  expect  the  same  spiritual  benefit  under 
the  ministry  of  the  same  clergymen.'  He  regretted 
that  there  was  not  more  harmony  of  feeling  among 
professors  generally,  who  believed  in  the  great  truths 


290  INTERESTING   SCENE. 

of  our  common  Christianity.  Difference  of  opin- 
ion, he  admitted,  was  proper ;  but  yet,  with  that 
difference,  the  main  objects  should  be  love  to  God 
—  love  to  our  fellow-creatures.  In  all  Mr.  Web- 
ster's conversations,  he  maintained  true  catholicity 
of  feeling." 

The  editor  of  the  Boston  Atlas,  as  quoted  by 
General  Lyman,  in  his  Memorials,  says, — 

"  It  was  our  fortune  to  pass  several  days  at  his 
home  in  Marshfield,  some  six  or  seven  years  ago ; 
and  well  we  remember  one  beautiful  night,  when  the 
heavens  seemed  to  be  studded  with  countless  myri- 
ads of  stars,  that  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
we  walked  out,  and  he  stood  beneath  the  beautiful 
weeping  elm  which  raises  its  majestic  form  within  a 
few  paces  of  his  dwelling,  and,  looking  up  through 
the  leafy  branches,  he  appeared  for  several  minutes 
to  be  wrapped  in  deep  thought,  and,  at  length,  as  if 
the  scene,  so  soft  and  so  beautiful,  had  suggested 
the  lines,  he  quoted  certain  verses  of  the  eighth 
Psalm,  beginning  with  the  words,  '  When  I  con- 
sider thy  heavens,  the  work  of  thy  fingers,  the 
moon  and  the  stars,  which  thou  hast  ordained,  what 
is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him?  and  the  son 
of  man,  that  thou  visitesthim?  For  thou  hast  made 
him  a  little  lower  than  the  angels,  and  hast  crowned 
him  with  glory  and  honor,'  &c.  The  deep,  low 
tone  in  which  he  repeated  these  inspired  words, 


HIS    REMARKS    ON    JOB.  291 

and  the  deep,  rapt  attention  with  which  he  gazed  up 
through  the  branches  of  the  elm,  struck  us  with  a 
feeling  of  greater  awe  and  solemnity  than  we  ever 
felt,  when,  a  year  or  two  later,  we  visited  some  of 
the  most  magnificent  cathedrals  of  the  old  world, 
venerable  with  the  ivy  of  centuries,  and  mellowed 
with  the  glories  of  a  daily  church  service  for  a  thou- 
sand years. 

"  We  remained  out  beneath  the  tree  for  an  hour, 
and  all  the  time  he  conversed  about  the  Scriptures, 
which  no  man  has  studied  with  greater  attention,  and 
of  which  no  man  whom  we  ever  saw  knew  so  much, 
or  appeared  to  understand  and  appreciate  so  well. 
He  talked  of  the  books  of  the  Old  Testament  espe- 
cially, and  dwelt  with  unaffected  pleasure  upon 
Isaiah,  the  Psalms,  and  especially  the  Book  of  Job. 
The  Book  of  Job,  he  said,  taken  as  a  mere  work  of 
literary  genius,  was  one  of  the  most  wonderful  pro- 
ductions of  any  age,  or  in  any  language.  As  an 
epic  poem,  he  deemed  it  far  superior  to  either  the 
Iliad  or  Odyssey.  The  two  last,  he  said,  received 
much  of  their  attraction  from  the  mere  narration  }f 
warlike  deeds,  and  from  the  perilous  escape  of 
the  chief  personages  from  death  and  slaughter ;  but 
the  Book  of  Job  was  a  purely  intellectual  narra- 
tive. Its  power  was  shown  in  the  dialogue  of 
characters  introduced.  The  story  was  simple  in  its 
construction,  and  there  was  little  in  it  to  excite  the 


292  HE    EXPLAINS    THE    SCRIPTURES. 

imagination  or  arouse  the  sympathy.  It  was  purely 
an  intellectual  production,  and  depended  upon  the 
power  of  the  dialogue,  and  not  upon  the  interest  of 
the  story,  to  produce  its  effects^  This  was  consid- 
ering it  merely  as  an  intellectual  work.  He  read  it 
through  very  often,  and  always  with  renewed  delight. 
In  his  judgment,  it  was  the  greatest  epic  ever 
written.  -  , 

"  We  well  remember  his  quotation  of  some  of  the 
verses  in  the  thirty-eighth  chapter :  '  Then  the 
Lord  answered  Job  out  of  the  whirlwind,  and  said, 
Who  is  this  that  darkeneth  counsel  by  words  without 
knowledge  ?  Gird  up  now  thy  loins  like  a  man  ; 
for  I  will  demand  of  thee,  and  answer  thou  me, 
Where  wast  thou,  when  I  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
earth  1  Declare,  if  thou  hast  understanding,'  &c. 
Mr.  Webster  was  a  fine  reader,  and  his  recitation  of 
particular  passages,  to  which  he  felt  warm,  were 
never  surpassed,  and  were  capable  of  giving  the 
most  exquisite  delight  to  those  who  could  appreciate 
them." 

With  regard  to  this  attachment  to  the  Bible,  the 
author  of  Mr.  Webster's  Private  Life  says  ,  — 

"  Indeed,  he  loved  and  he  read  that  priceless  vol- 
ume as  it  ought  to  be  loved  and  read ;  and  he  once 
told  the  writer  that  he  could  not  remember  the  time 
when  he  was  unable  to  read  a  chapter  therein.  He 
read  it  aloud  to  his  family  on  every  Sunday  morning, 


HIS    REVERENCE    FOR    THE    SCRIPTURES.        293 

and  often  delivered  extempore  sermons  of  great 
power  and  eloquence.  He  never  made  a  journey 
without  carrying  a  copy  with  him,  and  the  writer 
would  testify  that  he  never  listened  to  the  story  of 
the  Savior,  or  heard  one  of  the  prophecies  of  Isaiah, 
when  it  sounded  so  superbly  eloquent  as  when  com- 
ing from  his  lips.  Those  admitted  to  the  inti- 
macy of  his  conversation  alone  can  tell  of  the 
eloquent  fervor  with  which  he  habitually  spoke  of 
the  inspired  writings ;  how  much  light  he  could 
throw  on  a  difficult  text ;  how  much  beauty  lend 
to  expressions  that  would  escape  all  but  the  eye 
of  genius  ;  what  new  vigor  he  .could  give  to  the 
most  earnest  thought;  and  what  elevation  even  to 
sublimity. 

"  It  would  be  impossible,  as  C.  W.  March  has 
said,  for  any  one  to  listen  half  an  hour  to  one 
of  his  dissertations  on  the  Scriptures,  and  not  believe 
in  their  inspiration  or  his.  And  yet,  while  his 
private  conversations  and  public  productions  attest 
how  deeply  he  was  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  the 
Scriptures,  neither  the  one  nor  the  other  ever  con- 
tained the  slightest  irreverent  allusion  to  any  passage 
in  them,  any  thing  in  the  way  of  illustration,  anal- 
ogy, or  quotation,  which  would  seem  to  question 
their  sanctity.  He  was  scrupulously  delicate  in  this 
regard,  and  therein  differed  widely  from  most  of 
his  contemporaries  in  public  life  ;  as  he  read  and 
20 


294  HIS    PREFERENCE    FOR    JOHN. 

admired  the  Bible  for  its  eloquence,  so  did  he  vener 
ate  it  for  its  sacredness." 

At  a  dinner  table  at  the  Revere  House,  Boston, 
one  of  the  party  made  a  remark  upon  the  poetry  of 
the  Scriptures.  "Ah,  my  friend,"  immediately  re- 
plied Mr.  Webster,  "  the  poetry  of  Isaiah,  and  Job, 
and  Habakkuk  is  beautiful  indeed  ;  but  when  you 
reach  your  sixty-ninth  year,  you  will  give  more  for  the 
fourteenth  or  the  seventeenth  chapter  of  John's  Gos- 
pel, or  for  one  of  the  Epistles,  than  for  all  the  poetry 
of  the  Bible." 

It  may  be  asked,  If  Mr.  Webster  was  so  deeply 
impressed  with  the  value  of  the  sacred  Scriptures, 
why  did  he  never  give  expression  to  his  views  at  the 
anniversary  of  some  of  the  Bible  Societies  ?  He 
stated  in  the  above  interview,  that  he  had  declined 
speaking  at  Bible  Societies,  "  from  fear  that  the  mo- 
tives prompting  to  such  a  step  would  be  regarded  as 
sinister."  *  He  expressed  deep  regret  that  he  had 
never  recorded  his  opinion  of  the  word  of  God  in 
some  public  manner,  and  intimated  a  willingness  to 
comply,  if  invited  to  speak  at  the  anniversary  of  the 
American  Bible  Society.  But  the  arrangement  was 
never  made,  owing,  probably,  to  the  speedy  decease 
of  the  clergyman  to  whom  the  matter  was  suggested. 

It  is  reasonable  to    suppose  that  one  who  was  so 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Choules's  Sermon. 


CONSTANTLY    ATTENDS    CHURCH.  295 

sincerely  a  lover  of  the  Bible  would  not  be  uninter- 
ested in  the  public  services  of  the  sanctuary.  The 
following  fact  will  illustrate  Mr.  Webster's  views 
and  practice  upon  this  point:  — 

He  was  accustomed,  at  one  period  of  his  life,  to 
spend  his  months  of  summer  recreation  in  Dorches- 
ter, Massachusetts.  The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Codman  was , 
at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Orthodox  Congregational 
Church  in  that  town.  At  the  time  he  became  a  res- 
ident of  the  place,  Mr.  Webster  called  upon  Dr. 
Codman,  "  with  whom  he  held  similar  religious 
opinions,"  and  said  to  him,  — 

"  Sir,  I  am  come  to  be  one  of  your  parishioners. 
Not  one  of  your  fashionable  ones  ;  but  you  will  find 
me  in  my  seat  both  in  the  morning  and  in  the  after- 
noon." 

He  is  said  to  have  been  true  to  his  word.  His 
example  in  this  respect  furnishes  an  impressive  re- 
buke to  those  "  fashionable  "  worshippers  whose  con- 
science and  heart  are  satisfied  with  a  single  attend- 
ance upon  the  public  services  of  the  Sabbath.  May 
\ve  not  see  in  it,  also,  the  influence  of  home  educa- 
tion ?  Being  taught,  when  a  boy,  to  be  in  his  seat 
on  both  oarts  of  the  day,  he  continued  the  practice 
in  subsequent  years.  He  did  not  go  there  for 
amusement,  nor  to  while  away  an  hour  that  would 
have  otherwise  hung  heavily  on  his  hands.  Indeed, 
any  thing  in  the  form  of  a  sermon  which  furnished 


296  CRITICIZES    A    SERMON. 

mere  intellectual  entertainment  seemed  to  biro  out 
of  place. 

To  Rev.  Mr.  Alden,  of  Marshfield,  the  pastoi 
whose  ministrations  he  attended  when  at  home, 
he  said  with  emphasis,  "  When  I  attend  the  preach- 
ing of  the  gospel,  I  wish  it  to  be  made  a  personal 
matter,  A  PERSONAL  MATTER,  A  PERSONAL 
MATTER." 

On  another  occasion  he  expressed  his  views  of 
preaching  to  a  gentleman  who  afterwards  gave  them 
to  the  public  in  the  Congregational  Journal,  in  the 
following  article :  — 

"  A  few  evenings  since,"  says  this  writer,  "  sitting 
by  his  own  fireside,  after  a  day  of  severe  labor  in 
the  Supreme  Court,  Mr.  Webster  introduced  the  last 
Sabbath's  sermon,  and  discoursed  in  animated  and 
glowing  eloquence  for  an  hour,  on  the  great  truths 
of  the  gospel.  I  cannot  but  regard  the  opinions  of 
such  a  man  in  some  sense  as  public  property.  This 
lis  my  apology  for  attempting  to  recall  some  of  those 
remarks  which  were  uttered  in  the  privacy  of  the 
ilumestic  circle. 

"  Said  Mr.  Webster,  '  Last  Sabbath  I  listened  to 
an  able  and  learned  discourse  upon  the  evidences  of 
Christianity.  The  arguments  were  drawn  from 
prophecy,  history,  with  internal  evidence.  They 
were  stated  with  logical  accuracy  and  force ;  but,  as 
it  seems  to  me,  the  clergyman  failed  to  draw  from 


CRITICIZES    A    SERMON.  297 

them  the  right  conclusion.  He  came  so  near  the 
truth  that  I  was  astonished  he  missed  it.  In  sum- 
ming up  his  arguments,  he  said  the  only  alternative 
presented  by  these  evidences  is  this :  Either  Chris- 
tianity is  true,  or  it  is  a  delusion  produced  by  an  ex- 
cited imagination.  Such  is  not  the  alternative,'  said 
the  critic ;  « but  it  is  this  :  the  gospel  is  either  true 
history,  or  it  is  a  consummate  fraud  ;  it  is  either  a 
reality  or  an  imposition.  Christ  was  what  he  pro- 
fessed to  be,  or  he  was  an  impostor.  There  is  no 
other  alternative.  His  spotless  life  in  his  earnest 
enforcement  of  the  truth,  his  suffering  in  its  defence, 
forbids  us  to  suppose  that  he  was  suffering  an  illusion 
of  the  heated  brain. 

"  '  Every  act  of  his  pure  and  holy  life  shows  that 
he  was  the  author  of  truth,  the  advocate  of  truth,  the 
earnest  defender  of  truth,  and  the  uncomplaining  suf- 
ferer for  truth.  Now,  considering  the  purity  of  his 
doctrines,  the  simplicity  of  his  life,  and  the  sublimity 
of  his  death,  is  it  possible  that  he  would  have  died  for  * 
ar  illusion  ?  In  all  his  preaching  the  Savior  made 
no  popular  appeals.  His  discourses  were  all  directed 
to  the  individual.  Christ  and  his  apostles  sought  to 
impress  upon  every  man  the  conviction  that  he 
must  stand  or  fall  alone  —  he  must  live  for  himself, 
and  die  for  himself,  and  give  up  his  account  to  the 
omniscient  God,  as  though  he  were  the  only  de- 
pendent creature  in  the  universe.  The  gospel 


298  OPINION    OF    PREACHING 

leaves  the  individual  sinner  alone  with  himself  and 
his  God.  To  his  own  Master  he  stands  or  falls. 
He  has  nothing  to  hope  from  the  aid  and  sympathy 
of  associates.  The  deluded  advocates  of  new  doc- 
trine do  not  so  preach.  Christ  and  his  apostles, 
had  they  been  deceivers,  would  not  have  so  preached. 

" '  If  clergymen  iu  our  days  would  return  to  the 
simplicity  of  the  gospel,  and  preach  more  to  indi- 
viduals and  less  to  the  crowd,  there  would  not  be  so 
much  complaint  of  the  decline  of  true  religion. 
Many  of  the  ministers  of  the  present  day  take  their 
text  from  St.  Paul,  and  preach  from  the  newspapers. 
When  they  do  so,  I  prefer  to  enjoy  my  own  thoughts 
rather  than  to  listen.  I  want  my  pastor  to  come  to 
me  in  the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  saying,  "  You  are 
mortal!  your  probation  is  brief;  your  work  must  be 
done  speedily.  You  are  immortal,  too.  You  are 
hastening  to  the  bar  of  God ;  the  Judge  standeth 
before  the  door."  When  I  am  thus  admonished,  I 
have  no  disposition  to  muse  or  to  sleep.  These 
topics,'  said  Mr.  Webster,  '  have  often  occupied  my 
thoughts  ;  and  if  I  had  time  I  would  write  on  them 
myself.' 

"  The  above  remarks  are  but  a  meagre  and  ini  - 
perfect  abstract,  from  memory,  of  one  of  the  most 
eloquent  sermons  to  which  I  ever  listened." 

These  are  the  true,  common-sense  views  to  be 
taken  of  the  subject.  It  will  be  a  most  desirable 


A    CHANGE    NEEDED.  299 

change  in  public  opinion  when  these  views  become 
popular.  There  are  many  to  whom  no  preaching  is 
so  interesting  as  that  which  indulges  in  all  kinds  of 
flowery  and  imaginative  description  of  scenes,  cir- 
cumstances, and  characters,  but  which  leaves  the 
conscience  unaddressed.  To  hold  the  mirror  of 
divine  truth  before  them,  and  show  them  the  moral 
deformities  of  their  character,  is  to  perform  a  most 
unwelcome  service.  But  instead  of  censuring  them- 
selves, and  striving  for  amendment,  they  make  the 
preacher  the  subject  of  their  complaints,  or  else  find 
fault  with  the  truth  he  utters.  Probation,  mortality, 
and  eternity  are  themes  too  sombre  for  the  contem- 
plation of  such.  They  take  no  pleasure  in  them. 
How  widely  different  was  it  with  Mr.  Webster  !  "  I 
want  my  pastor  to  come  to  me  in  the  spirit  of  the 
gospel,  saying,  'You  are  mortal!  your  probation  is 
brief;  your  work  must  be  done  speedily.  You  are 
immortal,  too.  You  are  hastening  to  the  bar  of 
God ;  the  Judge  standeth  at  the  door.'  "  A  great 
mind  wants  great  themes  for  its  contemplation.  No 
wonder  that  he  added,  "  These  topics  have  often 
occupied  my  thoughts." 

Reader,  permit  them  to  occupy  your  thoughts. 
You  can  dwell  upon  nothing  invested  with  more 
profound  interest.  In  comparison  with  theee,  all 
other  subjects  dwindle  into  insignificance.  Your 
present,  life  is  brief.  Yet  for  all  your  conduct  here 


300  WEBSTER  S    OPINION    OF    PRAYER. 

you  are  accountable  at  the  tribunal  of  your  Maker 
It  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to  die,  and  after  that 
the  judgment.  Then  will  follow  your  immortality, 
the  character  of  which  will  depend  upon  the  course 
of  life  which  you  have  followed  here.  How  ex- 
plicit is  the  language  of  revelation!  —  "Be  not  de- 
ceived ;  God  is  not  mocked.  Whatsoever  a  man 
soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap.  He  that  soweth  to 
the  flesh  shall  of  the  flesh  reap  corruption.  He 
that  soweth  to  the  spirit  shall  of  the  spirit  reap  life 
everlasting."  Let  the  young  especially  remember 
that  this  life  is  their  seedtime  ;  that  the  harvest  will 
be  reaped  in  another  world,  and  the  nature  of  that 
harvest  will  depend  upon  the  character  of  the  seed 
sown  here. 

Being  a  believer  in  the  Bible,  Mr.  Webster  was 
convinced  of  the  efficacy  of  prayer.  The  last  time 
he  attended  church,  this  was  the  subject  of  discourse. 
It  was  delivered  by  that  warm-hearted,  earnest 
preacher,  and  indefatigable  laborer  in  the  vineyard 
of  Christ,  Rev.  E.  N.  Kirk,  of  Boston. 

Hearing  that  this  gentleman  was  to  preach  in 
Duxbury,  a  few  miles  from  Marshfield,  Mr.  W.,  with 
some  of  his  guests,  rode  over  to  hear  him.  Mr. 
Charles  Lanman,  who  was  one  of  the  number,  has 
given  the  following  account  of  the  circumstance,  with 
some  additional  remarks,  of  which  we  gladly  avail 
ourselves,  coming  as  they  do  from  one  who  was 


HEARS    A    SERMON    ON    PRA\ER.  301 

favored    with    the    enjoyment    of  a  close    personal 
intimacy  with  the  great  statesman. 

"  The  last  time  that  he  ever  attended  church,  it 
was  my  rare  fortune  to  be  his  companion.  He  had 
been  informed  that  the  Rev.  E.  N.  Kirk,  of  Boston, 
was  expected  to  preach  in  Duxbury,  some  three 
miles  from  Marshfield ;  and  packing  off  his  guests 
and  a  part  of  his  household  in  a  couple  of  carriages, 
he  reserved  a  gig  for  himself,  and  in  this  did  we 
attend.  The  sermon  was  on  the  efficacy  of  prayer, 
and  was  distinguished  not  only  for  its  eloquence,  but 
for  its  powerful  arguments.  It  dealt  in  nothing  but 
pure  Bible  doctrines,  as  understood  by  the  orthodox 
church.  Mr.  Webster  listened  with  marked  atten- 
tion to  the  whole  discourse,  and,  after  the  services 
were  closed,  went  up  and  congratulated  the  preacher. 
On  our  return  home,  his  conversation  turned  upon 
the  sermon,  and  he  said  it  was  a  remarkable,  a 
great  effort.  He  said  the  arguments  adduced  were 
unanswerable,  and  that  if  a  man  would  only  live  ac- 
cording to  the  lessons  of  such  preaching,  he  would 
be  a  happy  man  both  in  this  world  and  the  world  to 
come.  He  said,  moreover,  « There  is  not  a  single 
sentiment  in  that  discourse  with  which  I  do  not  fully 
concur.  And  this  remark,  when  appended,  as  it 
ought  tc  be,  to  the  sermon  when  hereafter  published, 
will  serve  to  convince  the  world  that  his  views  of 
religion  were  most  substantial  and  satisfactoi  y. 


802  RELIGIOUS     OPINIONS. 

During  the  whole  of  our  ride  home,  he  conversed 
upon  matters  contained  in  or  suggested  by  the 
discourse ;  and  I  deeply  regret  that  I  did  not  take 
more  ample  notes  of  what  he  said  on  the  occasion. 
The  distinct  impression  left  upon  my  mind,  however, 
was,  that  if  he  were  not  a  genuine  Christian,  the 
promises  of  the  Bible  were  all  a  fable;  and  God 
knows  that  I  would  rather  die  than,  for  a  moment, 
even  imagine  such  a  state  of  things. 

"  He  was  a  believer  in  the  great  atonement ;  and 
though,  living  as  he  did  in  a  sphere  of  peculiar  temp- 
tations, he  may  have  committed  errors,  he  needed  no 
promptings  to  lead  him  to  a  speedy  repentance.  He 
was  actuated  by  a  spirit  of  charity  which  knew  no 
bounds.  He  treasured  no  animosities  to  his  fellow- 
men,  and  when  once  wronged  by  those  in  whom  he 
had  confided  with  all  the  guilelessness  of  a  child,  he 
did  not  retaliate,  but  simply  moved  in  another  sphere 
beyond  their  reach.  He  was  a  student  of  the  Bible, 
and  read  it  habitually  in  his  family  whenever  the 
annoyances  of  his  official  position  did  not  prevent ; 
and  never  sat  down,  when  with  his  family  alone,  to 
enjoy  the  bounties  of  his  table,  without  first  implor- 
ing a  blessing.  No  man  ever  thought  or  talked  with 
more  reverence  of  the  power  and  holiness  of  God. 
He  came  of  a  race  of  good  men  ;  was  baptized  into, 
and  became  a  member,  in  his  college  days,  of  the 
Congregational  church,  but  died  in  the  communion 


SCENE   IN   A   STATE    ROOM.  303 

of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a  devout  member ;  and  oue  of  the  most  im- 
pressive scenes  that  I  ever  witnessed,  going  to  prove 
the  matchless  beauty  of  our  religion,  was  to  see  him, 
in  full  view  of  the  Capitol,  the  principal  theatre  of 
his  exploits, -upon  his  knees  before  the  altar,  partak- 
ing of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper.  That 
spectacle,  and  the  grandeur  of  his  death,  are  to  me 
more  eloquent  than  a  thousand  sermons  from  human 
lips." 

The  sermon  alluded  to,  preached  by  Mr.  Kirk, 
will  ever  be  interesting,  not  only  on  account  of 
its  intrinsic  merits,  but  as  being  the  last  which 
Mr.  "Webster  ever  heard,  and  as  drawing  from 
him  the  sentiments  he  then  uttered. 

He  was  a  believer  in  the  efficacy  and  the  obliga- 
tion of  prayer.  He  has  given  the  whole  weight  of 
his  influence  to  sanction  a  practice  which  not  a  few 
affect  to  despise. 

"  Many  years  ago,"  says  Rev.  Dr.  Choules, 
"  1834,  in  passing  through  the  Sound,  we  occupied 
the  captain's  state  room.  At  night  Mr.  Webster  took 
up  my  Bible  and  read  the  twenty-third  Psalm,  and 
then  made  some  fine  remarks  upon  the  character  of 
David,  observing  that  the  varied  experience  of 
David  as  a  shepherd  boy,  a  King,  victorious  and 
vanquished,  had  made  him  acquainted  with  all 
the  diversified  feelings  of  human  nature,  and  had 


304  REASONABLENESS    OF     PRAFER. 

thus  qualified  him  to  be  the  chorister  of  the  church 
in  all  future  ages.  After  this,  he  asked  me  to  com- 
mend ourselves  to  God,  remarking  that  none  needed 
prayer  more  than  '  the  wayfaring  man.'  " 

"How  absurd,"  says  one,  "to  imagine  that  our 
poor  requests  receive  any  attention  from  the  Sov- 
ereign of  the  universe,  or  secure  any  benefit  to  our- 
selves !"  "  How  superstitious,"  says  another,  "  to  with- 
draw to  some  place  of  retirement,  and  there  pretend 
to  talk  to  some  unseen  God  !  "  The  spirit  of  such 
harmonizes  with  certain  ones  of  old,  who  impiously 
said,  "  It  is  vain  to  serve  God,"  and  "  What  is  the 
Almighty,  that  we  should  serve  him  ?  and  what  profit 
should  we  have  if  we  pray  unto  him  1  " 

Not  so  thought  Mr.  Webster.  If  his  opinion  on 
other  subjects  be  valuable,  it  is  certainly  not  worth- 
less on  this.  He  was  a  believer  in  the  importance 
of  prayer,  and  performed  the  duty  with  more  or  less 
frequency. 

And  why  should  not  you,  my  young  reader  ?  The 
Bible  enjoins  the  duty  with  great  frequency.  It 
promises  that  it  shall  not  be  performed  in  vain. 
Various  interesting  instances  are  given  when  prayer 
was  answered.  How  reasonable  is  it  that  feeble 
creatures  like  ourselves  should,  in  this  way,  manifest 
our  dependence  upon  that  great  and  good  Being 
who  called  us  into  existence,  and  who  supplies  our 
daily  wants  Even  if  it  were  not  true  that  prayer  is 


REASONABLENESS    OF    PRAYER.  3U5 

answered,  its  reflex  influence  upon  the  worshipper's 
mind  and  heart  would  justify  its  performance.  To 
draw  voluntarily  near  to  God  ;  to  hold,  in  the  exercite 
of  faith,  converse  with  him ;  to  acknowledge  our 
weaknesses  ;  to  confess  our  sins  ;  to  render  thanksgiv 
ing  for  the  innumerable  blessings  we  have  received, 
and  earnestly  to  implore  more,  —  all  this  has  a 
tendency  to  deepen  within  us  feelings  of  humility, 
penitence,  gratitude,  and  devotion.  It  makes  us 
more  sensible  of  our  weakness  and  our  dependence 
upon  Him  who  is  the  object  of  our  prayers. 

In  respect  to  his  religious  sentiments,  in  addition 
to  what  Mr.  Lanman  has  said,  Rev.  Mr.  Kirk,  in  his 
sermon  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Webster,  entitled 
Great  Men  are  God's  Gift,  uses  the  following 
language : — 

"  Having  noticed  that  on  several  occasions  gen- 
tlemen have  endeavored  to  show  that  his  religious 
views  were  not  definite,  but  indefinite,  or,  as  some 
would  term  it,  liberal,  I  would  here  mention  an  an- 
ecdote, which,  from  his  own  lips,  I  am  authorized  to 
say  is  authentic.  Being  asked  by  a  Unitarian  gentle- 
man, as  he  was  coming  out  of  an  Episcopal  church 
in  this  city,  whether  he  believed  that  ihree  and  one 
are  the  same  thing,  he  replied  in  a  manner  perfectly 
characteristic,  as  it  properly  disposes  of  the  real 
difficulty  of  the  Trinity,  '  Sir,  I  believe  you  and  I 
do  not  understand  the  arithmetic  of  heaven.' " 


306  HIS    OPINION    OF    EDWARDS. 

In  further  illustration  of  his  religious  sentiments, 
we  mention  the  following  incident,  as  related  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Choules,  in  his  sermon  on  Mr.  Webster's 
death :  — 

"  That  evening  I  asked  Mr.  Webster  if  his  religious 
views  were  those  of  the  Orthodox  Congregational 
ists,  with  whom  I  had  heard  that  he  united  in  early 
life.  «  Yes,'  he  said,  '  he  thought  that  he  had  never 
changed  his  religious  opinions ;  that  he  regarded 
Jonathan  Edwards  as  being  as  nearly  the  stamp  of 
truth  as  any  mere  human  writer.  He  spoke  of  his 
History  of  Redemption  as  having  greatly  interested 
him,  and  added,  '  But  I  prefer  to  find  truth  as  it  is 
conveyed  to  us  in  the  word,  without  system,  yet  so 
clear  and  lucid.'  In  regard  to  the  atonement,  he 
expressed  the  most  abiding  confidence,  observing 
that  it  seemed  to  him  the  great  peculiarity  of  the 
gospel,  to  deny  which,  was  to  reduce  it  to  a  level  with 
other  systems  of  religion.  He  observed  that  he  had 
«  no  taste  for  metaphysical  refinement  in  theology, 
and  preferred  plain  statements  of  truth.'  He 
thought  the  pulpit  had  much  to  answer  for  in  pro- 
ducing differences  of  opinion  among  Christians,  and 
pressed  with  t^e  remark,  '  1  take  the  Hible  to  be  in- 
spired, and  it  must  not  be  treated  as  though  it  mere 


HIS    LOVE    FOR    WATTS's    HYMNS.  SOT 

ly  contained  a  revelation  ;  it  is  a  revelation.  You 
ministers  make  a  great  mistake  in  not  dwelling  more 
upon  the  great  facts  of  Christianity ;  they  are  the 
foundations  of  the  system,  and  there  is  a  power  con- 
nected with  their  statement ;  it  seems  to  me  that 
Peter  and  Paul  understood  this.  Plain  preaching 
is  what  we  all  want,  and  as  much  illustration  as  you 
can  bring  up.  I  once  heard  Dr.  Beecher,  in  Hano- 
ver Street,  Boston,  talk  for  an  hour  on  God's  law, 
in  its  application  to  the  heart  and  life ;  he  did  it  in 
my  idea  of  good  preaching.'  " 

Mr.  Webster  was  particularly  pleased  with  those 
psulms  and  hymns  by  Dr.  Watts  which  dwelt  upon 
the  atonement  and  salvation  by  faith  in  Christ.  He 
regretted  the  modern  alteration  in  some  of  them,  by 
which,  he  said,  their  classic  beauty,  not  less  than 
their  devotional  character,  has  suffered.  The  hymn 
now  commencing,  — 

"  Here  at  thy  cross,  my  dying  Lord,"   &c. 
he  would  have  read,  as  in  the  original, — 
u  Here  at  thy  cross,  my  dying  God,"  &c. 

^he  beautiful  hymn  on  the  Christian  Sabbath, 
dosing  with  the  stanza,  as  now  altered,  — 

"  My  willing  soul  would  stay 
In  such  a  frame  as  this, 
Till  called  to  rise  and  soar  away 
To  everlasting  bliss,"  — 


308  HIS  PASTOR'S  TESTIMONY. 

he  would  have,  as  Watts  wrote  it,  — 

"  My  willing  soul  would  stay 

In  such  a  frame  as  this, 
And  sit  and  sing  herself  away 
To  everlasting  bliss ;  " 

the  last  two  lines  having  a  fine  classic  allusion  to  the 
swan,  thus  indicating,  more  effectively,  the  devotional 
spirit.  He  often  repeated  the  fifty-first  psalm,  and 
referred  particularly  to  the  stanza,  — 

"  No  blood  of  beasts,  nor  heifers  slam, 

For  sin  could  e'er  atone, 
The  blood  of  Christ  must  still  remain, 
Sufficient  and  alone." 

Rev.  Mr.  Alden,  the  minister  of  Marshfield,  in  his 
address  at  Mr.  Webster's  funeral,  said, — 

"  Those  who  were  present  upon  the  morning  of 
that  Sabbath  upon  which  this  head  of  a  family  con- 
ducted the  worship  of  his  household  will  never  for- 
get, as  he  read  from  our  Lord's  Sermon  on  the 
Mount,  the  emphasis  which  he  alone  was  capable  of 
giving  to  that  passage  which  speaks  of  the  divine 
nature  of  forgiveness.  They  saw  beaming  from 
that  eye,  now  closed  in  death,  the  spirit  of  Him  who 
first  uttered  that  godlike  sentiment. 

"  And  he  who,  by  the  direction  of  the  dying  man, 
upon  a  subsequent  morning  of  the  day  of  rest,  read 
in  their  connection  these  words,  'Lord,  I  believe; 
help  thou  my  unbelief; '  and  then  the  closing  cha|>- 


PREPARATION    FOR    DEAPH.  309 

ter  of  our  Savior's  last  words  to  his  disciples,  being 
particularly  requested  to  dwell  upon  this  clause  of 
the  verse,  '  Holy  Father,  keep  through  thine  own 
name  those  whom  thou  hast  given  me,  that  they  may 
be  one,  as  we  are,'  beheld  a  sublime  illustration  of 
the  indwelling  and  abiding  power  of  Christian  faith. 

"  And  if  these  tender  remembrances  only  cause 
our  tears  to  flow  more  freely,  it  may  not  be  improper 
for  us  to  present  the  example  of  the  father,  when 
his  great  heart  was  rent  by  the  loss  of  a  daughter 
whom  he  most  dearly  loved.  Those  present  on  that 
occasion  well  remember,  when  the  struggle  of  mortal 
agony  was  over,  retiring  from  the  presence  of  the 
dead,  bowing  together  before  the  presence  of  God, 
and  joining  with  the  afflicted  father  as  he  poured 
forth  his  soul,  pleading  for  grace  and  strength  from 
on  high. 

"  As  upon  the  morning  of  his  death  we  conversed 
upon  the  evident  fact  that,  for  the  last  few  weeks, 
his  mind  had  been  engaged  in  preparation  for  an 
exchange  of  worlds,  one  who  knew  him  well  re- 
marked, '  His  whole  life  has  been  that  preparation.' 
The  people  of  this  rural  neighborhood,  among  whom 
he  spent  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life,  among 
whom  he  died,  and  with  whom  he  is  to  rest,  have 
been  accustomed  to  regard  him  with  mingled  ven- 
eration and  love.  Those  who  knew  him  best  can 
the  most  truly  appreciate  the  lessons  both  from  his 
21 


310        REVERENCE    FOR    THE    SUPREME    BEING. 

lips  and  example,  teaching  the  sustaining  power  of 
the  gospel. 

"  A  mind  like  Mr.  Webster's,  active,  thoughtful, 
penetrating,  sedate,  could  not  but  meditate  deeply 
on  the  condition  of  man  below,  and  feel  its  respon- 
sibilities. He  could  not  look  on  this  mighty  sys 
tern, — 

•  This  universal  frame,  thus  wondrous  fair, 

without  feeling  that  it  was  created  and*  upheld 
by  an  Intelligence  to  which  all  other  intelligence 
must  be  responsible.  I  am  bound  to  say  that 
in  the  course  of  my  life  I  never  met  with  an  in- 
dividual, in  any  profession  or  condition,  who  al- 
ways spoke  and  always  thought  with  such  awful 
reverence  of  the  power  and  presence  of  God. 
No  irreverence,  no  lightness,  even  no  too  familiar 
allusion  to  God  and  his  attributes  ever  escaped  his 
lips.  The  very  notion  of  a  Supreme  Being  was, 
with  him,  made  up  of  awe  and  solemnity.  It  filled 
the  whole  of  his  great  mind  with  the  strongest  emo- 
tions. A  man  like  him,  with  all  his  proper  senti- 
ments and  sensibilities  alive  in  him,  must,  in  this 
state  of  existence,  have  something  to  believe,  and 
something  to  hope  for  ;  or  else,  as  life  is  advancing 
to  its  close,  all  is  heart-sinking  and  oppression.  De- 
pend upon  it,  whatever  may  be  the  mind  of  an  old 
man,  old  age  is  only  really  happy  when,  on  feeling 


RECOGNITION    OF    DIVINE    PROVIDENCE.        311 

the  enjoyments  of  this  world  pass  away,  it  begins  to 
lay  a  stronger  hold  on  the  realities  of  another. 

"  Mr.  Webster's  religious  sentiments  and  feelings 
were  the  crowning  glories  of  his  character." 

The  Hon.  Mr.  Barstow,  mayor  of  Providence, 
when  alluding  to  the  demise  of  Mr.  Webster,  related 
the  following  interesting  facts  :  — 

"  He  also  recognized  God  in  his  providence. 
Who  does  not  remember,  after  the  sad  catastrophe 
of  the  steamer  Atlantic,  of  his  rising  in  his  seat  in 
the  American  Senate,  and  recording  there  three 
providential  deliverances  from  impending  death  ? 
The  first  I  have  forgotten.  The  second  was  on  the 
occasion  of  the  loss  of  the  Lexington.  He  was  in 
New  York,  and  had  engaged  passage  home  in  her, 
and,  if  I  mistake  not,  went  to  the  boat,  but  was  led, 
for  some  cause  which  then  appeared  slight,  to  change 
his  mind.  He  went  back  to  his  hotel,  and  his  life 
was  saved.  The  third  was  on  that  fatal  thanksgiv- 
ing eve  when  the  Atlantic  was  lost.  He  was  on  his 
way  to  Washington,  and  had  taken  passage  in  her 
at  Norwich.  When  the  boat  touched  at  New  Lon- 
don, he  deemed  it  unwise  to  proceed  in  su?h  a  gale. 
But,'  it  was  replied,  'the  boat  is  new  and  stanch, 
and  never  has  stopped  for  wind  or  weather ;  it  is  the 
storm  line.'  He  went  on  shore,  and  in  one  half 
hour  an  event  occurred  which  left  that  strong  boat 
to  the  mercy  of  the  wind  and  waves,  and  sent 


312  GIRARD'S  WILL. 

mourning  through  the  land.  He  did  not  ascribe 
these  deliverances  to  accident,  luck,  fortune,  chance, 
but  to  the  good  providence  of  God,  who  suffers  not 
the  sparrow  to  fall  to  the  ground  without  his  notice." 

It  will  be  appropriate,  in  this  connection,  to  give 
some  extracts  from  an  important  plea  of  Mr.  Web 
Bter,  in  which  he  has  expressed  more  fully  his  sen 
timents  upon  Christianity. 

Mr.  Stephen  Girard,  in  his  devise  for  the  endow- 
ment of  Girard  College,  Philadelphia,  imposed, 
among  others,  the  following  restriction :  — 

"  I  enjoin  and  require,  that  no  ecclesiastic,  mis- 
sionary, or  minister  of  any  sect  whatever,  shall  ever 
hold  or  exercise  any  station  or  duty  whatever  in  the 
said  college ;  nor  shall  any  such  person  ever  be  ad- 
mitted for  any  purpose,  or  as  a  visitor,  within  the 
premises  appropriated  to  the  purposes  of  the  said 
college." 

The  heirs  at  law  were  desirous  of  breaking  the 
will  of  Mr.  Girard,  and  for  this  purpose  suit  was  in- 
stituted in  the  District  Court  of  the  Eastern  District 
of  Pennsylvania,  where  the  decision  was  against 
them.  The  case  was  then  carried  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  Utates,  where  Mr.  Webster  de- 
livered this  speech,  February  20,  1844.  After  giving 
his  testimony  in  favor  of  the  exalted  character  and 
deep-toned  piety  of  the  American  clergy,  and  speak- 
ing of  the  wrong  done  by  excluding  them  from 


MR.  WEBSTER'S  PLEA.  313 

privileges   granted   even  to  the  basest  of  men,  he 

* 

proceeds  to  say,  — 

"  In  the  next  place,  this  scheme  of  education  is 
derogatory  to  Christianity,  because  it  proceeds  upon 
the  presumption  that  the  Christian  religion  is  not  the 
only  true  foundation,  or  any  necessary  foundation, 
of  morals.  The  ground  taken  is,  that  religion  is 
not  necessary  to  morality;  that  benevolence  may  be 
insured  by  habit ;  and  that  all  the  virtues  may  flour- 
ish, and  be  safely  left  to  the  chance  of  flourishing, 
without  touching  the  waters  of  the  living  spring  of 
religious  responsibility.  With  him  who  thinks  thus, 
what  can  be  the  value  of  the  Christian  revelation  7 
So  the  Christian  world  has  not  thought ;  for  by  that 
Christian  world,  throughout  its  broadest  extent,  it 
has  been,  and  is,  held  as  a  fundamental  truth,  that 
religion  is  the  oaly  solid  basis  of  morals,  and  that 
moral  instruction  not  resting  on  this  basis  is  'only  a 
building  upon  sand.  And  at  what  age  of  the  Chris- 
tian era  have  those  who  profess  to  teach  the  Chris- 
tian religion,  or  to  believe  in  its  authority  and  im- 
portance, not  uy.;isted  on  the  absolute  necessity  of 
inculcating  its  piinciples  and  its  precepts  upon  the 
minds  of  the  young  1  In  what  age,  by  what  sect, 
where,  when,  by  whom,  has  religious  truth  been  ex- 
cluded from  the  education  of  youth  1  Nowhere  — 
never.  Every  where,  and  at  all  times,  it  has  been, 
and  is,  regarded  as  essential.  It  is  the-  essence,  the 


314  THE    DECALOGUE. 

vitality,  of  useful  instruction.  From  all  this  Mr 
Girard  dissents.  His  plan  denies  the  necessity  and 
lite  propriety  of  religious  instruction  as  a  part  of  the 
education  of  youth.  He  dissents,  not  only  from  all 
the  sentiments  of  Christian  mankind,  from  all 
common  conviction,  and  from  the  results  of  all  ex- 
perience, but  he  dissents  also  from  still  higher  au- 
thority —  the  word  of  God  itself.  My  learned 
friend  has  referred,  with  propriety,  to  one  of  the 
commands  of  the  decalogue  ;  but  there  is  another,  a 
first  commandment,  and  that  is  a  precept  of  religion  ; 
and  it  is  in  subordination  to  this,  that  the  moral  pre- 
cepts" of  the  decalogue  are  proclaimed.  This  first 
great  commandment  teaches  man  that  there  is  one, 
and  only  one,  great  First  Cause  ;  one,  and  only  one, 
proper  object  of  human  worship.  This  is  the  great, 
the  ever-fresh,  the  overflowing  fountain  of  all  re- 
vealecl  truth.  Without  it,  human  life  is  a  desert,  of 
no  known  termination  on  any  side,  but  shut  in  on 
all  sides  by  a  dark  and  impenetrable  horizon. 
Without  the  light  of  this  truth,  man  knows  nothing 
of  his  origin,  and  nothing  of  his  end.  And  when 
the  decalogue  was  delivered  to  the  Jews,  with  this 
great  announcement  and  command  at  its  head,  what 
said  the  inspired  lawgiver  ?  That  it  should  be 
reserved  as  a  communication  fit  only  for  mature 
age  ?  Far,  far  otherwise.  « And  these  words,  which 
I  command  thee  this  day,  shall  be  in  thy  heart ;  and 


RELIGIOUS    INSTRUCTION    OF    YOUTH.  315 

thou  shalt  teach  them  diligently  unto  thy  children, 
and  shalt  talk  of  them  when  thou  sittest  in  thy  house, 
and  when  thou  walkest  by  the  way,  when  thou 
liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up.' 

"  There  is  an  authority  still  more  imposing  and 
awful.  When  little  children  were  brought  into  the 
presence  of  the  Son  of  God,  his  disciples  proposed 
to  send  them  away ;  but  he  said,  «  Suffer  little 
children  to  come  unto  me.'  Unto  me!  He  did  not 
send  them  first  for  lessons  in  morals  to  the  schools 
of  the  Pharisees,  or  to  the  unbelieving  Sadducees, 
nor  to  read  the  precepts  and  lessons  phylacteried  on 
the  garments  of  the  Jewish  priesthood ;  he  said 
nothing  of  different  creeds  or  clashing  doctrines ; 
but  he  opened  at  once  to  the  youthful  mind  the  ever- 
lasting fountain  of  living  waters,  the  only  source  of 
eternal  truths.  '  Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto 
me."1  And  that  injunction  is  of  perpetual  obligation. 
It  addresses  itself  to-day  with  the  same  earnestness 
and  the  same  authority  which  attended  its  first 
utterance  to  the  Christian  world.  It  is  of  force 
every  where,  and  at  all  times.  It  extends  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth,  it  will  reach  to  the  end  of  time, 
always  and  every  where  sounding  in  the  ears  of 
men,  with  an  emphasis  which  no  repetition  can 
weaken,  and  with  an  authority  which  nothing 
can  supersede.  '  Suffer  little  children  to  come 
unto  me.' 


316  EVIDENCES    OF    CHRISTIANITY. 

•'  And  not  only  my  heart  and  ray  judgment,  my 
belief  and  my  conscience,  instruct  me  that  this  great 
precept  should  be  obeyed,  but  the  idea  is  so  sacred, 
the  solemn  thoughts  connected  with  it  so  crowd  upon 
me,  it  is  so  utterly  at  variance  with  this  system  of 
philosophical  morality  which  we  have  heard  advo- 
cated, that  I  stand  and  speak  here  in  fear  of  being 
influenced  by  my  feelings  to  exceed  the  proper  line 
of  my  professional  duties.  Go  thy  way  at  this  time, 
is  the  language  of  philosophical  morality,  and  I  will 
send  for  thee  at  a  more  convenient  season.  This  is 
the  language  of  Mr.  Girard  in  his  will.  In  this 
there  is  neither  religion  nor  reason." 

It  had  been  Mr.  Webster's  desire  to  prepare  a 
work  on  the  evidences  of  Christianity ;  but  the  press- 
ure of  public  duties  prevented.  During  his  last  ill- 
ness at  Marshfield,  when  this  subject  was  made  a 
topic  of  conversation,  and  knowing  his  inability  to 
accomplish  it,  he  resolved  to  leave,  as  a  substitute,  an 
epitaph  to  be  engraven  upon  his  monument,  contain- 
ing an  unequivocal  expression  of  his  confidence  in 
the  religion  of  Christ.  This  was  done  on  Sabbath 
evening,  October  10,  1852.  He  requested  a  friend 
who  was  then  with  him  to  read  the  ninth  chapter  of 
the  Gospel  by  Mark,  in  which  occurs  that  interesting 
narrative  of  a  parent  bringing  his  afflicted  son  to  Jesus 
to  be  healed,  to  whom  the  Savior  said,  "  If  thou 
canst  believe,  all  things  are  possible  to  him  that 


MR.  WEBSTER'S  EPITAPH.  317 

believeth.  And  straightway  the  father  of  the  child 
cried  out,  and  said  with  tears,  Lord,  I  believe  ;  help 
thou  mine  unbelief."  He  then  desired  to  hear 
another  passage,  commencing  John  x.  42  —  "And 
many  believed  on  him  there."  Both  of  these  por- 
tions of  Scripture  contain  instances  of  faith  in 
Christ.  After  the  reading  of  them  was  finished,  he 
dictated  a  few  sentences,  which,  after  correction, 
were  left  as  follows  :  — 

Hori,  K  telfebe;  tjelp  t&ou  mfne  unbdfet 

Philosophical 
Argument,  especially 
that  drawn  from  the  Vastness  of 
the  Universe,  in  Comparison  with  the 
apparent  Insignificance  of  this  Globe,  has  some- 
times shaken  my  Reason  for  the  Faith  which  is  in  me ; 
but  my  Heart  has  always  assured  and  reassured  me  that  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  must  be  a  Divine  Reality.     The 
Sermon  on  the  Mount  cannot  be  a  merely  human 
Production.     This  Belief  enters  into  the 
very  Depth  of   my  Conscience. 
The  whole  History  of   Man 
*\    Prcves  it. 

DANIEL  WEBSTER. 

This  he  requested  should  be  dated,  and  subscribed 
with  his  name.  After  this  he  added,  "  This  is  the 
inscription  to  be  placed  on  my  monument." 

In  further  conversation  he  remarked,  "  If  I  get 
well,  and  write  a  book  on  Christianity,  about  which 


318          IMPORTANT  DOCUMENT. 

we  have  talked,  we  can  attend  more  fully  to  this 
matter.  But  if  I  should  be  taken  away  suddenly,  I 
do  not  wish  to  leave  any  duty  of  this  kind  unper- 
formed. I  Want  to  leave  somewhere  a  declaration 
of  my  belief  in  Christianity.  I  do  not  wish  to  go 
into  any  doctrinal  distinctions  in  regard  to  the  person 
of  Jesus,  but  I  wish  to  express  my  belief  in  his 
divine  mission." 

We  regard  the  above  clear  and  beautiful  inscrip- 
tion as  one  of  the  most  valuable  documents  Mr. 
Webster  ever  executed.  We  know  nothing  amongst 
all  his  able  pleas,  his  earnest  speeches,  and  his 
dignified  state  papers,  that  excels  it  in  importance. 
It  is  the  declaration  of  an  eminently  profound  mind 
—  a  mind  which  thought  for  itself,  instead  of  being 
carried  away  by  the  impassioned  appeals  or  confi- 
dent assertions  of  others  —  a  mind  capable  of  de- 
tecting sophism  under  every  guise,  of  exposing  the 
fallacies  of  false  reasoning,  and  feeling  the  power 
of  all  arguments  for  the  truth;  it  is  the  declaration 
of  such  a  mind  "that  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ 
must  be  a  divine  reality."  By  his  confession  of 
faith  in  the  divine  mission  of  Jesus,  Mr.  Webster 
gives  the  weight  of  his  influence  to  Christianity  ;  and 
in  so  doing  he  administers  a  powerful  rebuke  to  that 
flippant,  popular  infidelity  which  treats  with  irrev- 
erent familiarity  the  most  sacred  truths,  which  is 
filling  the  land  with  superficial  sceptical  theories  and 


INFIDELITY    REBUKED.  319 

arguments  that  have  been  repeatedly  overthrown, 
and  by  means  of  which  the  young  and  the  thought- 
less are  in  danger  of  being  led  into  the  belief  that 
the  Bible  is  nothing  more  than  a  mass  of  cunningly- 
devised  Oriental  fables. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

Mr.  Wsbster's  Health  fails.  —  He  retires  to  Marshfield.  —  His 
Strength  decreases.  —  Signs  bis  Will.  —  Returns  Thanks.  —  En- 
courages Dr.  Jeffries. —  His  Prediction. —  It  is  fulfilled.—  Ar- 
ranges for  the  Express.  —  Gives  Instructions  respecting  his  Af- 
fairs. —  His  last  Interview  with  his  Family.  —  Peter  Harvey.  — 
24th  of  October.  —  Gray's  Elegy.  —  Calls  in  his  Servants. — 
The  Valley.  —  His  Death.  —  Poetry. 

HAVING  narrated  some  of  the  principal  incidents 
in  the  life  of  Mr.  Webster,  and  indulged  in  a  few 
reflections  which  they  naturally  suggested,  we  come 
now  to  the  closing  scenes  of  his  earthly  career. 

During  the  summer  of  1852,  his  health  failed,  and 
he  retired  to  his  mansion  at  Marshfield,  to  obtain 
some  respite  from  the  heavy  pressure  of  his  respon- 
sible public  duties. 

Here  every  thing  was  done  which  affectionate  so- 
licitude and  medical  experience  could  suggest  to  ar- 
rest his  disease,  but  without  avail.  It  was  painfully 
evident  that  his  constitution  was  gradually  yielding 
to  its  power.  Of  this  no  one  was  more  fully  con- 
vinced than  Mr.  Webster  himself. 

Finding  his  strength  was  constantly  diminisliing, 
and  being  impressed  with  the  belief  that  his  life  was 

320 


LAST    SICKNESS.  321 

hastening  towards  its  termination,  he  made  a  final 
disposition  of  all  temporal  affairs. 

On  the  evening  of  the  19th  of  October,  he  occu- 
pied for  the  last  time  his  usual  seat  at  his  own  fire- 
side. After  his  will  was  prepared,  which  he  had 
drawn  up  himself  with  great  care  and  minuteness, 
he  had  it  laid  aside,  with  the  intention  of  delaying  a 
little  before  affixing  to  it  his  signature  ;  but  being 
convinced  that  he  could  survive  but  a  short  time,  he 
had  that  important  document  brought  to  him,  and 
in  the  presence  of  his  friends  he  signed  it  in  a  larger 
and  bolder  manner  than  usual.  He  then  folded  his 
hands  together,  and  in  an  impressive  manner  said, 
"  I  thank  "God  for  strength  to  perform  a  sensible 
act."  After  which  he  engaged  in  a  most  devout  man- 
ner in  audible  prayer  for  several  minutes,  closing 
the  exercise  with  the  Lord's  prayer,  and  the  inscrip- 
tion, "And  now  unto  God  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost  be  praise  forevermore.  Peace  on  earth, 
and  good  will  to  men.  That  is  the  happiness,"  he 
continued  with  great  emphasis,  clasping  his  hands 
together  as  before  —  "  that  is  the  happiness  —  the 
essence  —  good  will  towards  men." 

He  now  requested  all  but  Dr.  Jeffries  and  the 
nurse  to  leave  the  room,  that  he  might,  if  possible, 
get  a  little  repose.  But  before  going  to  sleep,  he 
said,  "  Doctor,  you  look  sober ;  you  think  1  shall 


322  HIS    PREDICTION. 

not  be   here    in  the   morning,  but  I  shall.     I  shall 
greet  the  morning  light." 

His  prediction  was  fulfilled.  He  did  behold  the 
morning  light.  During  the  forenoon  he  said  to 
the  physician,  who,  he  thought,  appeared  sad. 
"  Cheer  up,  doctor ;  I  shall  not  die  to-day.  You 
will  get  me  along  to-day"  And  so  he  did.  But  the 
next  morning,  conscious  that  his  disease  had  in- 
creased in  severity,  and  that  he  could  not  endure  it 
long,  he  said  to  his  physician  in  a  distinct  voice,  and 
with  great  seriousness,  "  Doctor,  you  have  carried 
me  through  the  night.  I  think  you  will  get  me- 
through  the  day.  / shall  die  to-night"  To  which, 
after  a  brief  pause,  the  physician  replied,  "  You 
are  right,  sir."  Mr.  Webster  then  added,  "  I  wish 
you,  therefore,  to  send  an  express  to  Boston  for 
some  younger  person  to  be  with  you.  /  shall  die  to- 
night! You  are  exhausted,  and  must  be  relieved. 
Who  shall  it  be  1  " 

The  doctor  mentioned  the  name  of  Dr.  J.  Mason 
Warren.  "  Let  him  be  sent  for." 

When  Dr.  Jeffries  returned  from  another  room, 
where  he  had  gone,  after  the  above  conversation,  to 
prepare  a  note  to  send  to  Boston,  he  found  that 
during  his  absence  Mr.  Webster  had  made  all  the 
necessary  arrangements  to  send  it,  even  designating 
the  person,  the  horse,  and  the  vehicle  that  should  go, 
the  route  to  be  pursued,  where  a  fresh  horse  should  be 


HIS    CALMNESS.  323 

taken,  and  in  what  manner  the  errand  should  be  ex 
ecuted  in  the  city.  He  also  suggested  the  propriety 
of  mentioning  some  other  physician,  in  case  Dr. 
Warren  could  not  be  obtained.  When  told  that  this 
contingency  was  provided  for,  he  added,  "Right, 
right." 

After  obtaining  a  little  rest,  he  conversed  with  his 
wife  and  son,  and  with  a  few  others  who  were 
"  nearest  and  dearest  to  him  in  life,  in  the  most  af- 
fectionate and  tender  manner,  not  concealing  from 
them  his  view  of  the  approach  of  death,  but  consol- 
ing them  with  religious  thoughts  and  assurances,  as 
if  support  were  more  needful  for  their  hearts  than 
for  his  own.  On  different  occasions,  in  the  course 
of  the  day,  he  prayed  audibly.  Oftener  he  seemed 
to  be  in  silent  prayer  and  meditation.  But,  at  all 
times,  he  was  quickly  attentive  to  whatever  was 
doing  or  needed  to  be  done.  He  gave  detailed 
orders  for  the  adjustment  of  whatever  in  his  affairs 
required  ;,  <uid  superintended  and  arranged  every 
thing  for  his  own  departure  from  life,  as  if  it  had 
been  that  of  another  person,  for  whom  it  was  his 
duty  to  take  the  minutest  care." 

When  informed  that  his  last  hour  was  approach- 
ing, he  received  the  announcement  with  composure, 
and  expressed  a  wish  to  see  the  female  members  of 
his  family.  In  compliance  with  his  request,  Mrs. 
Webster,  Mrs.  Fletcher  Webster,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Paige, 


324  HIS   LAST    INTERVIEWS. 

and  Miss  Downs,  of  New  York,  entered  the  room. 
He  called  each  of  them  by  name,  and  addressed  to 
them  individually  a  brief  farewell,  accompanied  with 
a  few  words  of  religious  consolation.  It  was  a 
deeply-affecting  scene.  Whilst  these  beloved  mem- 
bers of  his  family  were  around  his  couch  bathed  in 
tears,  he  over  whose  departure  they  were  weeping 
was  calm,  and  by  the  utterance,  of  religious  truth 
was  endeavoring  to  impart  relief — the  dying  admin- 
istering comfort  to  the  living. 

He  next  had  the  male  members  of  his  family,  and 
the  personal  friends  who  were  there,  called  in,  viz., 
"  Fletcher  Webster,  (his  only  surviving  son,)  Sam- 
uel A.  Appleton,  (his  son-in-law,)  J.  W..  Paige, 
George  T.  Curtis,  Edward  Curtis,  of  New  York, 
Peter  Harvey  and  Charles  Henry  Thomas,  of 
Marshfield,  and  Messrs.  George  J.  Abbott,  and  W. 
C.  Zantzinger,  both  of  the  state  department  at 
Washington.  Addressing  each  by  name,  he  referred 
to  his  past  relations  with  them  respectively,  and,  one 
by  one,  bade  them  an  affectionate  farewell.  This 
was  about  half  past  six. 

"  He  now  had  Mr.  Peter  Harvey  called  in  again, 
and  said  to  him,  '  Harvey,  I  am  not  so  sick  but  that 
I  know  you  —  I  am  well  enough  to  know  you.  I 
am  well  enough  to  love  you,  and  well  enough  to  call 
down  the  richest  of  Heaven's  blessings  upon  you 
and  yours.  Harvey,  don't  leare  me  till  I  am  dead 


GRAY'S  ELEGY.  S25 

—  don't  leave  Marshfield  till  I  am  a  dead  man.1 
Then,  as  if  speaking  to  himself  he  said,  *  On  the 
24th  of  October,  all  that  is  mortal  of  Daniel  Web- 
ster will  be  no  more.' 

"  He  now  prayed  in  his  natural  usual  voice  — 
strong,  full,  and  clear,  ending  with,  «  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther, forgive  my  sins,  and  receive  me  to  thyself, 
through  Christ  Jesus.' 

"Between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock,  he  repeated 
somewhat  indistinctly  the  words, '  Poet,  poetry,  Gray, 
Gray.'  Mr.  Fletcher  Webster  repeated  the  first 
line  of  the  elegy,  — 

<  The  curfew  tolls  the  knell  of  parting  day.' 

i* 

4  That's  it,  that's  it,'  said  Mr.  Webster  ;  and  the  book 
was  brought,  and  some  stanzas  read  to  him,  which 
seemed  to  give  him  pleasure." 

At  another  time  he  was  heard  to  say,  "  This  day 
I  shall  be  in  life,  in  glory,  in  blessedness." 

He  did  not  deem  it  beneath  him  to  remember  his 
servants,  most  of  whom  had  been  for  many  years  in 
his  service,  "  and  had  become  to  him  as  affectionate 
and  faithful  friends."  These  also  were  called  into 
his  chamber,  to  each  of  whom  he  addressed  a  few 
kind  words,  and  left  with  them  his  dying  blessing. 

From  the  time  that  he  had  announced  to  his  phy- 
sician that  "  he  should  die  that  night,"  he  seemed  to 
be  solicitous  to  recognize  his  advance  towards  the 


326  THE    SHADOW    OF    DEATH. 

dark  valley,  and  especially  to  know  when  he  was 
actually  entering  it. 

"  Once,  being  faint,  he  asked  if  he  were  not  then 
dying  ?  and  on  being  answered  that  he  was  not, 
but  that  he  was  near  to  death,  he  replied  simply, 
«  Well  ; '  as  if  the  frank  and  exact  reply  were  what 
he  had  desired  to  receive.  A  little  later,  when  hia 
kind  physician  repeated  to  him  that  striking  text  of 
Scripture,  'Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for  thou 
art  with  me  ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff,  they  comfort  me,' 
he  seemed  less  satisfied,  and  said,  *  Yes  ;  but  the 
fact,  the  fact  I  want; '  desiring  to  know  if  he  were 
to  regard  these  words  as  an  intimation  that*  he  was 
already  within  that  dark  valley.  On  another  occa- 
sion, he  inquired  whether  it  were  likely  that  he 
should  again  eject  blood  from  his  stomach  before 
death,  and,  being  told  that  it  was  improbable,  he 
asked,  'Then  what  shall  you  do?'  Being  answered 
that  he  would  be  supported  by  stimulants,  and  ren- 
dered as  easy  as  possible  by  the  opiates  that  had 
suited  him  so  well,  he  inquired,  at  once,  if  the  stim- 
ulant should  not  be  given  immediately  ;  anxious  again 
to  know  if  the  hand  of  death  were  not  already  upon 
him.  And  on  being  told  that  it  would  not  be  then 
given,  he  replied,  '  When  you  give  it  to  me,  I  shall 
know  that  I  may  drop  off  at  once.' 

"  Being  satisfied  on  this  point,  and  that  he  should, 


HIS    TRANQUIL    DEATH.  327 

therefore,  have  a  final  warning,  he  said  a  moment 
afterwards,  'I  will,  then,  put  myself  in  a  position  to 
obtain  a  little  repose.'  In  this  he  was  successful. 
He  had  intervals  of  rest  to  the  last ;  but  on  rousing 
from  them,  he  showed  that  he  was  still  intensely  anx- 
ious to  preserve  his  consciousness,  and  to  watch  for 
the  moment  and  act  of  his  departure,  so  as  to  com- 
prehend it.  Awaking  from  one  of  these  slumbers 
late  in  the  night,  he  asked  distinctly  if  he  were  alive  ; 
and  on  being  assured  that  he  was,  and  that  his  fam- 
ily was  collected  around  his  bed,  he-  said,  in  a  per- 
fectly natural  tone,  as  if  assenting  to  what  had  been 
told  him,  because  he  himself  perceived  that  it  was 
true,  « I  still  live.'  These  were  his  last  coherent  and 
intelligible  words.  At  twenty-three  minutes  before 
three  o'clock,  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan,  all  signs 
of  life  ceased  to  be  visible  ;  his  vital  organs  giving 
way  at  last  so  slowly  and  gradually  as  to  indicate  — 
what  every  thing  during  his  illness  had  already 
shown — that  his  intellectual  and  moral  faculties  still 
maintained  an  extraordinary  mastery  amidst  the  fail- 
ing resources  of  his  physical  constitution." 

" '  StM  1  Live.'  —  The  flesh  was  failing ; 

All  in  vain  the  healer's  skill ; 
Light  in  that  deep  eye  was  paling, 

And  the  mighty  heart  grew  still ; 
Yet  the  soul,  its  God  adoring, 

Clad  in  armor  firm  and  bright, 
O'er  the  body's  ruin  soaring, 

Mingled  with  the  Infinite. 


328  ««  I    STILL    LIVE." 

Where  he  sleeps,  that  man  of  glory, 

Marshfield's  mournful  shades  can  sa}', 
•  And  his  weeping  country's  story 

Darkened  on  that  funeral  day; 
But  the  love  that  deepest  listened 

Caught  such  balm  as  heaven  can  give  5 
For  an  angel's  pinion  glistened 

At  the  echo,  <  Still  I  Live.'  "  t.  B 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

FnneraJ  of  Mr.  Webster  at  Marshfield.  —  Appearance  of  his  Re- 
mains.  —  He  is  borne  to  the  Grave  by  his  Neighbors.  —  Boston 
in  Mourning.  —  Impressive  Arrangements.  —  Business  Suspend- 
ed. —  Appropriate  Mottoes.  —  Funeral  Obsequies  in  Boston  on 
the  30th  of  November.  —  Address  of  Mr.  Hillard.  —  Closing 
Quotation. 

THE  funeral  of  Mr.  Webster  took  place  at  Marsh- 
field,  on  Friday,  October  29,  1852.  Large  num- 
bers of  persons,  of  all  sects  and  parties,  from  various 
parts  of  the  commonwealth,  were  gathered  there  to 
testify  their  respect  for  the  honored  dead.  Accord- 
ing to  his  own  request,  every  thing  was  arranged  with 
the  greatest  simplicity  possible  for  so  public  an 
occasion. 

His  remains  were  attired  in  the  dress  which  he 
usually  wore,  embalmed  in  an  elegant  coffin,  and 
then,  that  all  might  have  the  opportunity  of  behold- 
ing once  more  his  noble  form  and  manly  brow,  the 
coffin  was  brought  from  the  library,  and  "  placed  in 
front  of  the  house,  beneath  the  open  heavens,  and 
under  a .  tree  which,  in  its  summer  foliage,  was 
a  conspicuous  ornament  of  the  spot.  The  majestic 
form  reposed  in  the  familiar  garb  of  life,  with  more 

329 


330  THE    FUNERAL,. 

than  the  dignity  of  life  in  its  most  imposing  mo- 
ments. Suffering  had  changed  without  impairing 
those  noble  features.  ,  The  grandeur  of  the  brow  was 
untouched,  and  the  attitude  full  of  strength  and 
peace.  For  more  than  three  hours  a  constant  stream 
of  men  and  women,  of  all  ages,  passed  on  bnth 
sides,  pausing  for  a  moment  to  look  upon  that  loved 
and  honored  form.  Parents  held  their  children  by 
the  hand,  bade  them  contemplate  the  face  of  their 
benefactor,  and  charged  them  never  to  lose  the 
memory  of  that  spectacle  and  that  hour.  Many 
dissolved  into  tears  as  they  turned  aside ;  and  one 
—  a  man  of  plain  garb  and  appearance  — was  heard 
to  make,  in  a  subdued  voice,  the  striking  remark, 
'Daniel  Webster,  the  world  will  seem  lonesome 
without  you.'  " 

The  funeral  services  were  performed  by  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Alden,  pastor  of  the  Orthodox  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  the  town,  after  which  the  embalmed 
remains  were  borne  to  the  tomb  by  six  of  Mr.  Web- 
ster's Marshfield  neighbors,  and  deposited  in  the 
place  of  his  own  selection,  where  the  voices  of 
the  wind,  blending  with  the  subdued  notes  of  the 
rolling  surf,  furnish  unceasingly  a  mournful  re- 
quiem. 

The  day  of  Mr.  Webster's  funeral  at  Marshfield 
^as  a  day  of  sorrow  throughout  the  land.  In  Bos- 
ton, especially,  it  was  observed  with  every  indication 


BOSTON  IN  MOURNING.  331 

of  sorrow.  At  no  time  since  the  death  of  General 
Washington  has  the  city  presented  so  universally 
the  habiliments  of  woe.  Business  was  suspended ; 
schools  were  discontinued  ;  banks,  courts,  markets, 
offices,  and  public  institutions  of  all  kinds  were 
closed.  A  large  proportion  of  the  city  was  arrayed 
in  the  drapery  of  mourning.  Hotels,  stores,  public 
buildings,  and  private  edifices  were  clothed  in  mate- 
rials whose  colors  of  black  and  white,  mingling  to 
gether,  imparted  to  them  a  sombre  and  funereal  as- 
pect. Flags  of  all  kinds,  tied  with  crape,  appropri- 
ately ornamented,  and  containing  inscriptions,  were 
hung  over  doorways,  on  the  fronts  of  the  houses 
or  festooned  across  the  streets.  The  impressiveness 
of  these  arrangements  was  increased  by- the  fact  that 
in  the  city  there  were  no  public  exercises  on  that 
day  ;  no  procession,  no  address,  no  religious  service. 
As  all  business  was  suspended,  the  people  were  at 
leisure,  and  consequently  large  numbers  spent  the 
day  in  slowly  perambulating  the  streets,  gazing  upon 
the  drapery,  reading  the  various  mottoes  and  inscrip- 
tions, and  indulging  in  their  own  mournfnl  reflec- 
tions. 

Amongst  the  sentiments  which  were  suspended 
in  conspicuous  places  on  that  sad  occasion  were 
many  beautifully  significant  and  impressive.  We 
give  the  following  specimens  :  — 


332  INSCRIPTIONS. 


THE   GLOBY     OP    THY     LIFE,     LIKE    THE     DAY     OF     THY     DEATH, 
SHALL    NOT    FAIL    FROM    THE    REMEMBRANCE    OF    MAN. 

H18   WORDS   OF  WISDOM,    WITH  RESISTLESS   POWER, 

HAVE  GRACED  OUR  BRIGHTEST,  CHEERED  OUR  DARKEST  HOUR. 

WHEREVER  AMONG  MEN  A  HEART   SHALL  BE  FOUND  THAT   BEATS 

TO  THE  TRANSPORTS  OF  PATRIOTISM  AND   LIBERTY, 

ITS    ASPIRATIONS    SHALL   BE   TO   CLAIM 

KINDRED    WITH   HIS   SPIRIT. 

KNOW  THOU,    O  STRANGER  TO  THE  FAME 
OF  THIS    MUCH-LOVED,  MUCH-HONORED   NAME, 
(FOR  NONE  THAT  KNEW   HIM   NEED   BE  TOLD,) 
A  WARMER  HEART  DEATH  NE'ER  MADE   COLD. 

THOU   ART    MIGHTY  YET.      THY   SPIRIT  WALKS   ABROAD. 

THB    GREAT    HEART   OF  THE   NATION    THROBS     HEAVILY   AT  THB 
PORTALS    OF   HIS   GRAVE. 

UVB    LIKE    PATRIOTS !      LIVE    LIKE    AMERICANS !      UNITED    ALL, 
UNITED   NOW,   AND  UNITED   FOREVER. 

THOU  HAST  INSTRUCTED   MANY,  AND  THOU  HAST   STRENGTHENED 
THE  WEAK   HANDS. 

•WE'VE   SCANNED  THE  ACTIONS  OF  HIS  DAILY  LIFE,  AND  NOTHING 
MEETS    OUR  EYES    BUT   DEEDS   OF   HONOR. 

SOME,  WHEN  THEY  DIE,  DIE   ALL.      THEIR  MOULDERING   CLAY  13 

BUT  AN  EMBLEM  OF  THEIR  MEMORIES.      BUT  HE  HAS  LIVED. 

HE    LEAVES    A  WORK    BEHIND  WHICH   WILL    PLUCK 

THE  SHINING    AGE  FROM   VULGAR  TIME, 

AND  GIVE  IT  WHOLE  TO  I, ATE 

POSTERITY. 


HILLARD'S  EULOGY.  333 

Similar  scenes  were  presented,  when,  011  the  30th 
of  November,  the  city  of  Boston  gave  another  pub- 
lic expression  of  the  high  respect  entertained  for  the 
memory  of  Mr.  Webster.  A  long  and  imposing 
civic  and  military  procession,  with  craped  arms, 
shrouded  flags,  and  muffled  drums,  passed  through 
the  streets  to  Faneuil  Hall,  where  a  chaste,  eloquent, 
and  highly  appropriate  eulogy  was  pronounced  by 
Hon.  George  S.  Hillard,  the  close  of  which  will 
furnish  an  appropriate  termination  to  this  volume. 

"  There,  among  the  scenes  that  he  loved  in  life,  he 
sleeps  well.  He  has  left  his  name  and  memory  to 
dwell  forever  upon  those  hills  and  valleys,  to  breathe 
a  more  spiritual  tone  into  the  winds  that  blow  over 
his  grave,  to  touch  with  finer  light  the  line  of  the 
breaking  wave,  to  throw  a  more  solemn  beauty  upon 
the  hues  of  autumn  and  the  shadows  of  twilight. 

"  But  though  his  mortal  form  is  there,  his  spirit  is 
here.  His  words  are  written  in  living  light  along 
these  walls.  May  that  spirit  rest  upon  us,  and 
our  children.  May  those  words  live  in  our  hearts, 
and  the  hearts  of  those  who  come  after  us  !  May 
we  honor  his  memory,  and  show  our  gratitude  for 
his  life,  by  taking  heed  to  his  counsels,  and  walking 
in  the  way  on  which  the  light  of  his  wisdom 
shines ! " 


WE  here  give  a  picture  of  the  Family  Tomb  ol 
Marshfield,  in  which  now  repose  the  mortal  remains 
of  the  "  great  American  Statesman," 


DANIEL  WEBSTER 


For  a  particular  description  of  the  Tomb,  its  lo- 
cation, the  various  inscriptions,  etc.,  we  refer  the 
reader  to  page  214. 


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